Track-Etch Radiography: Alpha, Proton, and Neutron

Abstract

Several polycarbonate plastics and cellulose nitrate have been studied for radiographic imaging studies with alpha particles, protons, fast neutrons, and thermal neutrons. Comparisons, made with conventional film-detection methods in terms of exposure requirements, spatial resolution, contrast, and convenience, show that track-etch techniques can give comparable or better results. Comprehensive results for thermal-neutron radiography indicate that total thermal-neutron exposures in the range of 2 × 10⁷ to 4 × 10⁸ n/cm² provide radiographs which display a contrast sensitivity of 1 to 3% and a spatial resolution of ∼25 μm. A scattered-light enlargement technique provides a simple means to improve visual contrast of track-etch images.