Study etching characteristics of a track detector CR-39 with ultraviolet laser irradiation

The effect of pulsed ultraviolet Indium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (UV-In:YAG) laser of λ=266 nm, pulse energy 42 mJ/pulse at repetition rate10 Hz on the etching characteristics of Japanese CR-39 was studied at various energy intensities. Fifteen detectors were divided into two sets, each of seven samples and one sample was kept as a reference.The first set (post-exposed) was first exposed to alpha radiation with close contact to 241Am and then treated in air with laser in the energy intensity range from 40 to160 J/cm2, 20 J/cm2 in step. The second set (pre-exposed) was irradiated in reverse process (laser+alpha) with the same sources as the first set and under the same condition. The laser energy intensities ranged between 20 and 140 J/cm2, 20 J/cm2 in step. For post-exposed samples (alpha+laser) bulk etch rate decreases up to 60 J/cm2 and increases thereafter, while for pre-exposed samples (laser+alpha) the bulk etch rate oscillates without showing any precise periodicity. The bulk etch rate for both sets was found to be the same at 60⩽energy intensity⩽80 J/cm2 and this may indicate that the same structural changes have happened. The track etch rate was found to be equal to the bulk etch rate for both sets, so the sensitivity is constant. In both sets several changes on the detector surfaces: tracks of different sizes and shapes and high density within the laser spot were observed. Out of the laser spot, the tracks become larger and lower density, indicating cross-linking and scission have happened, simultaneously, on the same surface as a result of UV-laser irradiation.