The evaluation of the spatial parameters K and α in equations for fission track uranium analysis

Abstract

The equations describing fission track densities registered in solid state detectors contain some spatial parameters whose values are not well known. The product of K, a geometric factor approximately equal to the range of fission fragments in a solid, and α, the etching efficiency, is determined by simultaneously producing fission tracks from a glass of known uranium content and monitoring the thermal neutron dose using gold foil. For tracks recorded in Lexan plastic and produced by uranium in alumino-silicate glass the value of this product is 8.1–10⁻⁴ cm (± 7 per cent), and for tracks etched in the glass matrix itself it is 3.7–10⁻⁴ cm (± 8 per cent). These values are consistent with analagous values calculated from other published data, and by assuming a value of α = 1 for Lexan plastic, K is found to be 8.1. 10⁻⁴ cm (±7 per cent).