ANGULAR DEPENDENCE OF TRACK-ETCH DETECTOR HARZLAS TD-1.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Space Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Track-etched detectors are widely used for radiation monitoring in space, particularly on the International Space Station.
• Particle registration requires linear energy transfer above a threshold and incidence angles greater than the critical angle.
• The etch rate ratio (V), used to estimate linear energy transfer, can be influenced by the particle's incident angle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the angular dependence of the etch rate ratio (V) in track-etched detectors.
• To develop a correction method for angular dependence to improve radiation measurement accuracy.
• To apply this correction to data obtained from the International Space Station.

Main Methods:

• Irradiation of Harzlas TD-1 detectors with various ions at the HIMAC facility.
• Experiments conducted at incident angles ranging from 0° to 90°.
• Analysis of track parameters after chemical etching to determine the etch rate ratio (V).

Main Results:

• Observed significant dependence of the etch rate ratio (V) on the incident angle.
• Demonstrated that this angular dependence varies with detector materials and etching conditions.
• Introduced and applied a correction factor that accounts for both the critical angle and the angular dependence of V.

Conclusions:

• The angular dependence of V is a critical factor affecting track-etched detector performance in radiation monitoring.
• The developed correction method enhances the accuracy of linear energy transfer estimation from track-etched detectors.
• Improved data analysis for space radiation environments, including measurements from the International Space Station.