Calibration of CR-39 regarding the Track Length using the Spontaneous Fission Spectrum of Cf252

Abstract

The objective of our studies was to calibrate the Solid State Nuclear Track Detector (SSNTD), CR-39 for the identification of spontaneous fission produced from the Cf²⁵². The calibration of detectors was carried out with Solid State Surface Barrier Detector and the Radio Chemical Technique. A number of CR-39 detectors were exposed to the fission fragments of Cf²⁵² in vacuum at 45^o and 90^o. The detectors were etched in 6N NAOH at 40^o C to reveal the tracks of spontaneous fission. The etched tracks recorded by CR-39 were scanned using the optical microscope at the magnification of 40x (Leitz-orthoplan). The actual lengths of the tracks were measured using the projected lengths and depths. The graphs of the lengths were drawn as a function of % yield from the obtained data. Now this data was correlated with the results obtained by Flynn. He used the radiochemical technique (offline technique). Our detectors provide us an offline technique. The calibration curve between the track lengths vs the ffs masses was drawn. It was observed that the accuracy in measuring the masses and energies of the ffs is preserved in our case.

Keywords: Calibration, CR-39, Track Length, Spontaneous Fission Spectrum