Comparison of responses of LR-115A, CR-39 and PM-355 track detectors to pulsed low-energy proton streams

The paper concerns applications of LR-115A, CR-39 and PM-355 solid-state nuclear-track detectors (SSNTDs) for investigation of pulsed fluxes of protons below 300 keV. The proton streams were generated by the RPI-IBIS device operated with hydrogen puffing [Baranowski et al. 2000. Studies of hydrogen discharges in RPI-type devices with different electrode configurations. Czech. J. Phys. 50 (Suppl. S3), 101-107]. To perform ion mass- and energy-analysis, a Thomson mass-spectrometer equipped with a special input system and exchangeable detectors was used. A quantitative analysis of proton tracks upon Thomson parabolas was performed by means of an optical microscope equipped with a CCD camera. It made possible to measure proton tracks and to determine their statistics. The paper presents proton energy spectra recorded with the selected detectors, and responses of these detectors to protons of energy from about 30 to 300 keV. The results are important for verification of detector characteristics and for measurements of protons at different experimental conditions.