Characterization of alpha-particle tracks in cellulose nitrate LR-115 detectors at various incident energies and angles

Cellulose nitrate LR-115 detectors were irradiated with alpha particles in the energy range from 1 to 5 MeV at incident angles from 20° to 90°, using an 241Am source. After etching in a 2.5 N NaOH solution kept at 60 °C for various periods, the diameters of the major and minor axes of the track openings, track growing rate, track etch rate, etching ratio, and track length were found as a function of energies and incident angles. The measured track parameters were compared to calculated values, and the etching ratio was formulated as a Durrani-Green's function of the incident energy and angle.