Surface fission tracks in diamond

Scanning Probe Microscope (SPM) images reveal important fingerprint features of latent tracks induced in diamond by fission fragments from a californium source. Collimated fission fragments with a binary distribution of the predominant energies of 79.4 and 103.8 MeV, are assumed. Cavities, reticular formations around these cavities, and black spots of graphite were found. A brief discussion on the possible track formation mechanism is given on the basis of the explosion spike theory; an attempt to determine latent track core and halo parameters is included.