PADC nuclear track detector for ion spectroscopy in laser-plasma acceleration

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nuclear Physics
• Radiation Detection

Background:

• Polyallyl-diglycol-carbonate (PADC), or CR-39, is a standard detector for heavy charged particles.
• Applications in laser-ion acceleration, fusion, radiobiology, and particle therapy require precise energy-dependent detector responses.
• Knowledge of detector response is crucial for accurate dosimetry and experimental analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To calibrate the energy-dependent response of the novel Radosys RS39 detector material.
• To compare the performance of RS39 with other PADC materials for proton and carbon ion detection.
• To assess the utility of RS39 for specific applications in particle physics and therapy.

Main Methods:

• Calibration of RS39 detector response to protons (0.2-3 MeV) and carbon ions (0.6-12 MeV).
• Analysis of track diameters formed after etching in alkaline solutions (NaOH or KOH).
• Comparative analysis of RS39's sensitivity and specificity against established PADC detectors.

Main Results:

• RS39 exhibits lower sensitivity to protons compared to other PADC types.
• The response of RS39 to carbon ions is comparable to other PADC materials.
• RS39 enables carbon ion energy measurement up to 10 MeV using track diameters alone.
• RS39 facilitates discrimination between protons and carbon ions within a single etching process.

Conclusions:

• Radosys RS39 offers a distinct detection profile, particularly for carbon ions.
• The material's characteristics make it suitable for specific dosimetry and particle identification tasks.
• RS39 provides a valuable new option for researchers in fields utilizing charged particle detection.