Modifications in track registration response of PADC detector by energeticprotons

It has been well established that different ionising radiations modify the track registration properties of dielectric solids. In an effort to study t he response of Polyallyl diglycol carbonate (PADC Homalite) detector toward s:fission fragment, PADC detectors were exposed to 10(4) Gy dose of 62 MeV protons and then one set of samples were exposed to fission fragments from a Cf-252 source. TWO Of these detectors were containing a thin layer of Buc kminsterfullerene (C-60) The study of the etched tracks by Leitz Optical Mi croscope reveals that the track diameters are, enhanced by more than 70% in the proton irradiated zone as compared to that in the unirradiated zone. S canning Electron Microscopy was performed after etching the sample in 6 N N aOH at 55 degrees C for different etching times, to study the details of th e surface modifications due to proton irradiation of PADC detectors with an d without C60 layer. Our observations revealed that the diameters and densi ty of proton tracks have increased with etching time on the surface facing the fullerene layer as well as the other surface. However, a relatively mor e open structure of the etched surface containing Csa as compared to the ba re one may be an indication of the extra damage caused by the energy releas ed upon the destruction of C60 molecules by energetic protons.