Digital image analysis of the etched α-tracks in CR-39

Alpha Track Analysis (ATA) technique is one of the most sensitive tools for revealing the μ-distribution of the trace amounts of α-emitting radionuclides through the contaminated samples. The identification of radionuclides using solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) along with the α-activity determination in the case of non-planar preparation is beyond the limits of the conventional ATA. In the current paper the comprehensive analytic system for recognition and processing of etched α-tracks in CR-39 plastic nuclear track detector (TASTRAK, Bristol) is presented. The considerable advantage of the proposed algorithm for α-track image analysis is the opportunity to separate the overlapping α-tracks and the α-tracks with the imperfect contours by fitting object templates to edge fragments of the probe image.

► A comprehensive etched alpha-track recognition system is developed.
► This system is capable to recognize tracks with imperfect contours.
► This system is capable to separate overlapping tracks.
► The proposed track cluster analysis method is applicable for non-planar preparations.