Using non-thermal atmospheric argon plasma as a new technique in etching CR-39 nuclear track detector

 

Abstract 

In our study the new technique for etching CR-39 nuclear track detector by non-thermal atmospheric pressure argon plasma was done. The CR- 39 detectors were irradiated by alpha particles with energy (4.871) MeV emitted from (226Ra) source with activities (5µCi ). Homemade atmospheric-pressure plasma jet system was used for this purpose. The applied  voltage  on  the plasma jet was ( 6 )  kV, and its frequency ( 12 ) kHz. The argon gas was used as a fed gas with flow rate (3) l/min.. The irradiated detector were exposed to cold argon plasma for time intervals (0, 5, 10, …., 50) min. After every exposure, the detector was examined by optical microscope, and the track number were calculated and track diameter was measured. The relation between track density and track diameter as a function of time was plotted. It is found that the increasing of   the track density and track diameter with increasing time of exposure. The maximum track density was (   ) at time 20 min. and maximum track diameter was (  ) at 20 min. also.