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yy^ &»* UCRL-5136 RESULTS OF THE 1972 SURVEY ON TRACK REGISTRATION B. V. Griffith March 15, 1973 Prepared for US. Atomic Energy Commission under contract No.W-7405-Eng-48 LAWRENCE LIVERMORE LABORATORY University of California/Livermore v BISTRIBUTI.ON OF THIS DOCUMENT !S" UNLIMITED, NOTICE "This report was prepared as an account of worfe sponsored by iiie United Stales Government. Neither the United Stales nor *he United States Atomic Energy Commission, nor any of their employees, nor any of their contractors, subcontractors, ortheir employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately- owned rights." Printed in the United States of America Available from National Technical Information Service U. S. Department of Commerce 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, Virginia 22151 Price: Printed Copy $ *; Microfiche $0.95 * NT1S Pages Selling Price 1-50 $4.00 51-150 $5.45 151-325 $7.60 326-500 $10.60 501-1000 $13.60 TID-4500, UC-41 Health and Safety m LAWRENCE UVERMORE LABORATORY University ot Cetilomia/UvMnore, CaXtomia/S4550 UCRL-51362 RESULTS OF THE ?972 SURVEY ON TRACK REGISTRATION R. V. Griffith MS. date: March 15, 1973 -NOTICE- Thls report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by the United States Government. Neither the United States nor the United States Atomic Energy Commission, nor any of their employees, nor any of their contractors, subcontractors, or their employees, makes any warranty, express or Implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, com pleteness or usefulness of any Information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, or represents that Its use would not infringe privately owned rights. MASTEi DISTRiaUTtOr-1 THIS • :r IS 'jNUMin^p J...L..I Contents Abstract 1 Introduction 1 Survey Summary 1 Conclusion 5 Acknowledgments 5 Survey Contributors 0 Appendix A—General Track Registration Survey Replies . , . n United States 12 West Germany 38 Prance 46 Japan 50 England 53 Australia 55 Belgium , 57 Canada • 59 Italy 60 Switzerland 61 Hungary 63 Ireland 64 Netherlands 66 Austria 66 India 67 Israel ... 67 Poland 68 Romania 69 Sweden 69 Trinidad 70 Appendix B—Spark Counting Survey Replies 71 RESULTS OF THE 1972 SURVEY ON TRACK REGISTRATION Abstract The results of a survey of 118 lab used, particles studied, analyses per oratory groups in 20 countries on the formed, and methods of data acquisi registration of particles in dielectric tion and track image enhancement. A materials is presented. The survey section is also included which presents includes data on track registration detailed replies by 39 laboratories on applications, as well as materials techniques of spark counting. introduction Tha use of techniques for registration In January 1972, questionnaires were of nuclear particles in dielectric mate sent to more than 550 researchers at ap rials has increased dramatically in recent proximately 220 laboratories where work years and has found application in such in track registration had been reported. widely diversified fields as particle These laboratories represented 29 coun dosimetry, geology, biology, radiography, tries. By August, we had received 118 and trace element analysis. Within the replies from laboratories in 20 countries. last two years, we decided that it would We have briefly summarized the results. be useful to researchers involved in Information from the replies themselves track registration to circulate a appears in Appendix A, and the replies survey which would help define trends covering spark counting techniques appear in the field, as well as encourage in Appendix B. To add to the informative interchange of information on the value of this survey, we have prepared personal level, particularly for those an abstracted bibiliography, including who are just becoming involved with over 550 references, which will be pub these techniques. lished separately. Survey Summary The national distribution of survey certainly reflects the widespread replies is shown in Table 1, and it geographical interest in track registration. -1 I *.. Table 1. Survey replies by country of Table 2. Registration materials by origin. number of researchers. United States 53 Hungary 2 Polycarbonates 83 West Germany 18 Ireland 2 Mica 58 France 8 Netherlands 2 Cellulose compounds Japan 6 Austria Nitrate 38 England 5 India Acetates 13 Australia 3 Israel Acetate butyrate 3 Belgium 3 Poland Unspecified 13 Canada 3 Romania Glasses Italy 3 Sweden Silicate Switzerland 3 Trinidad Phosphate Soda lime Borate Table 2 shows the distribution of Quartz interest as a function of registration Polyester materials used. Many researchers are Tooth and bone interested in more than one material. Polyimide The fact that polycarbonates, mica and Polyvinyl cellulosic materials are most popular Silver chloride sl-iould surprise no one. It is obvious Uranium oxide that there is interest in a wide variety of Unspecified minerals and glasses 30 materials. The distribution of interest by particles studied, shown in Table 3, indicates the Table 3. Particles studied. abundance of work done with fission Fission fragments 101 fragments and alpha particles, which is Alpha particles 5? a result of the use of isotopic sources and Protons 16 fissionable radiators for neutron detection. Heavy ions 11 In Table 4 we see the wide variety of Cosmic particles 9 materials used as particle radiators. Recoil nuclei 8 Table 5 is of particular interest since Tritons 3 it shows the very large number of applica Deuterons 2 tions that have been investigated for track Muons 2 registration work. The replies also Mesons 1 indicated that 16 laboratories are now 1-MeV electrons 1 using track registration for personnel neutron dosimetry, either in fixed-area monitors or as personnel-worn dosimetry, The distribution of track analyses per and one laboratory is using track detection formed are shown in Table 6, and the for alpha dosimetry. methods for image enhancement and data -2- - I. I '- Table 4. Particle radiators and sources. Cross-sect ion measurements Neutron 22 A. Radiation -induced Gamma 5 23 5. "U 41 Nitrogen Alpha autoradiography 21 Radiography - neutron 15 238 40 238Pu n Analytical application!' 15 232Th 28 241Pu Radon dosimetry 13 ^9Pu 12 230Th Nuclear reaction studies fl Reactor physics 7 237, Nat. La Np 11 Biological sample analysis C 252 Cf 10 B Dating studies 5 22: ; Ra Metallurgy 3 Li 197 . "'Ac Uranium assay in geological 6 Nat. Cd samples 3 Nat. Pb Studies of meteorites 3 Nat. Bi 5 244Cm A' ^liaelogical studies 3 Nat. Ta 3 240pu Ternary fission studies 2 Oxygen -3 231 Spontaneous fission stuiiep 2 241 Pa i\rr\ 2 Nat. W Environmental sample analysis 2 12, 2 Nat. In Search for superheavy elements 2 Beam profiles determination 2 232T Nat. Cu "IT Lunar studies 2 Accelerator-produced 16 Measurement of environmental B. Natural radioactive decay neutrons 2 252 232 Cf 24 Th 3 Studies of solar system origin 238 228 Uptake r-t bone seekers u 12 Th 3 Implantation effects studies 241Am 11 210Pb Registration of single-crystal blocking patterns 239 226 pu 8 Ra Radiation damage in biological systems Radon 4 234 u Geochemistry of heavy elements 23 5y 4 237 Np Proton dosimetry 210 Po 24 Solar flare studies 3 4 m C Product development Channeling and diffraction Table 5. Areas of interest. measurements Basic Research 47 Effects of trace impurities on AgCl Neutron dosimetry 46 Fission fragment irradiation research Geological studies 36 Radiography - proton Cosmic ray studies 25 -3- Table 6. Track analyses performed. There are now at least four computer- Track densities 103 based scanning systems available com Track length 36 mercially for small particle or track Track or pit diameter 11 counting. These systems, which use a Angular distribution 4 light microscope with television display, Cone angle 1 generally cost over $20,000; but a growing Angle between tracks 1 number of laboratories are using these systems for automatic track counting. Often the expense of such systems can be shared with other laboratory research Table 7. Methods of image enhancement and data acquistion. groups, Tables 8, 9, and 10 briefly summarize Optical microscopy (manual) 100 some of the data from the replies on spark Spark counting 39 counting found in Appendix B. Those Automatic scanning devices 21 interested in spark counting should review Optical density measurements 7 the individual replies. Therefore, a Photographic assessment 5 Ammonia imaging 4 Table 8. Spark counting applications. Use of opaque coatings Neutron dosimetry 24 Optical microscopes with television monitors Radiograph 4 Electron microscopy Measurement of uranium in Flying spot scanners geological materials 3 Microphotometers General research 2 Electrochemical etching Radon dosimetry 2 Use of fluorescent dyes Cross-section measurements 2 Dark field microscopy Environmental neutron Infrared analysis measurements 2 Bubble-point analysis Cosmic ray measurement 2 Flow measurement Isomeric fission studies Liight scattering Fissionography Chemical analysis Alpha counting Measurement of uranium Visual assessment in liquid and air Reflection from silvered Metallurgy surfaces Trace element analysis X-ray analysis Autoradiography acquisition appear in Table 7. The optical Table 9. Registration materials used for microscope remains the workhorse of the spark counting. track registration researcher, but the use Polycarbonates 34 of spark counting for measuring track Cellulose nitrate 8 densities below about 5000 cm" is finding Polyester 1 wide acceptance. -4- great deal of interpretation is not provided Table 10. Radiators used for spark count ing. here. However, two points are worth noting. The a.c. spark counter reported 23 5 210 by Geisler, Philips and Walker from n 18 PO 238 222 Washington University, St. Louis, u 18 Rn Missouri was probably the most significant 232 6 Th 13 Li departure from conventional spark tech 252 Nat. Pb Cf 7 niques and should be of interest for some Nat.