This paper reviews some aspects of solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) and their applications in the radon and other research fields. Several geometrical models for the track growth given in the literature are described and compared. It is found that different models give close results for the dimensions of track openings. One of the main parameters that govern track formation is the bulk etch rate Vb. Dependences of Vb on different parameters such as the preparation procedures, etching conditions, irradiation before etching, etc. are examined. A review of existing methods for determination of the bulk etch rate and track etch rate Vt is also given. Examples of Vt functions for some detectors are presented. Some unsolved questions related to Vt and some contradictory experimental results published in the literature are also summarized in the paper. Applications of SSNTDs for radon and progeny measurements are discussed. New designs of diffusion chambers that have appeared in the last few years are portrayed. A review of analytical and Monte Carlo methods for the calculation of the calibration factors in radon measurements is presented. Particular attention has been given to methods of long-term passive measurements of radon progeny with SSNTDs. These measurements are rather difficult and there is not yet a widely accepted solution. One possible solution based on the LR 115 SSNTD is outlined here. Methods for retrospective radon measurements are also described. Various applications of SSNTDs in other fields of physics and other sciences are briefly reviewed at the end of the paper. # 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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Formation and growth of tracks in nuclear track materials

Latent nuclear tracks are damaged zones, created along the paths of rapidly moving ions in solids. They are stored indefinitely in many insulators and can be used to initiate a phase separation process by one of several procedures that remove, collect, or transform material along the latent track. The resulting two-step technique is based on separate inscription and development stages, similar to the lithographic techniques using visible light, uv, x rays, or electrons. In contrast to these other techniques, however, it is applicable even to mechanically very stable, chemically inert, radiation-resistant dielectric materials. The most common development procedure is track etching, which acts as a chemical "amplifier" that dissolves the damaged zone of the latent track preferentially, creating etch pits or channels that can be extremely fine. Etched track diameters start around 10 nm and increase linearly with the etching time. The most outstanding feature of the technique is that one single particle is sufficient to create a developable damage. This unique combination of recording and revealing properties makes possible a single-particle structuring tool with a very wide array of applications. With the advent of high-energy, heavy-ion accelerators, with ion ranges between micrometers and centimeters, large-scale application of the technique to the imprinting of structure onto solids has become possible. At present, most frequently random track arrays are employed to induce global property changes of the solid volume or surface. In the future, scanning ion microbeam technology will make possible local generation of oriented track structures with high precision. This "ultimate" microtool should provide the versatility of a computer-controlled mechanical lathe. This review describes the processes involved in track generation. It outlines applications that are on the verge of being commercialized at present and considers future possibilities.

Production and use of nuclear tracks: imprinting structure on solids

Track-diameter kinetics in dielectric track detectors

Development of etched nuclear tracks

Reitz, G., Berger, T., Bilski, P., Facius, R., Hajek, M., Petrov, V., Puchalska, M., Zhou, D., Bossler, J., Akatov, Y., Shurshakov, V., Olko, P., Ptaszkiewicz, M., Bergmann, R., Fugger, M., Vana, N., Beaujean, R., Burmeister, S., Bartlett, D., Hager, L., Palfalvi, J., Szabo, J., O'Sullivan, D., Kitamura, H., Uchihori, Y., Yasuda, N., Nagamatsu, A., Tawara, H., Benton, E., Gaza, R., McKeever, S., Sawakuchi, G., Yukihara, E., Cucinotta, F., Semones, E., Zapp, N., Miller, J. and Dettmann, J. Astronaut's Organ Doses Inferred from Measurements in a Human Phantom Outside the International Space Station. Radiat. Res. 171, 225–235 (2009). Space radiation hazards are recognized as a key concern for human space flight. For long-term interplanetary missions, they constitute a potentially limiting factor since current protection limits for low-Earth orbit missions may be approached or even exceeded. In such a situation, an accurate risk assessment requires knowledge of equivalent doses in critical radiosensi...

https://bioone.org/journals/radiation-research/volume-171/issue-2/RR1559.1/Astronauts-Organ-Doses-Inferred-from-Measurements-in-a-Human-Phantom/10.1667/RR1559.1.pdf

Astronaut's Organ Doses Inferred from Measurements in a Human Phantom Outside the International Space Station

https://escholarship.org/content/qt4fz2s59x/qt4fz2s59x.pdf?t=p0junx

R.P. Henke

Papers

On geometry of tracks in dielectric nuclear track detectors