Systematic measurements of etch induction time for nuclear tracks: Startup of etching and the multiplex effect

Systematically planned new experiments were performed on fission fragment and alpha particle tracks in CR-39. In the present experiments, special attention was paid to reduction of spurious variations and fluctuations during exposures, chemical etching and etched track measurements. Measurements of etch induction time (tei) for fission fragment and alpha particle (of energy 4.59–6.11 MeV) tracks were carried out. Potential of tei for alpha particle spectrometry with CR-39 detector is demonstrated. Published results of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and conductometric cell measurements of various charged particle tracks in CR-39 and similar polymers were used as a support of the present results to propose a multiplex mechanism of startup of chemical etching of charged particle tracks. Results are useful for further development in the field of nuclear tracks and technology applications including nanotechnology.