Automatic counting of fission fragments tracks using the gas permeation technique

An automatic counting system for fission tracks induced in a polycarbonate plastic Makrofol KG (10 μm thickness) is described. The method is based on the gas transport mechanism proposed by Knudsen, where the gas permeability for a porous membrane is expected to be directly related to its track density. In this work, nitrogen permeabilities for several Makrofol films, with different fission track densities, have been measured using an adequate gas permeation system. The fission tracks were produced by irradiating Makrofol foils with a 252Cf calibrated source in a 2π geometry. A calibration curve fission track number versus nitrogen permeability has been obtained, for track densities higher than 1000/cm2, where the spark gap technique and the visual methods employing a microscope, are not appropriate for track counting.