The submicroscopic etching process in heavy ion tracks

Abstract

A review about the etching process in heavy ion tracks in nuclear track detectors will be given together with a status report of our own results about electrolytical measurements. The thesis of U. Leinemann and the thesis of Ch. de Vries are the main works which will be reported about and which will be published more in detail elsewhere.

In both works the etching behaviour is studied with a computer on-line in an electrolytical chamber, where the 6n-NaOH serves equally as etchant and as electrolyte. The temporal change of the electric current due to the enlargement of a single etched track is measured and evaluated to achieve finally the etching rate transversal to the ion's path. From this transversal track etching rate the energy loss of the ion is deduced and compared with present theories.

Experimental and theoretical problems will be discussed together with the results of higher energy U-ion tracks in CR-39 and Lexan.