Dependence of PN3 response to Am–Be neutrons on etching and reading process

Abstract Polyallyl diglycol carbonate can be polymerized to make solid-state nuclear track detectors, type PN3, that are widely used for neutron dosimetry. Neutrons are detected by the damage trails created by recoil nuclei of the PN3 constituent atoms that are subsequently revealed by either a suitable chemical etching (CE) or electrochemical etching (ECE) process. On the basis of calibration exposures, track density can be related to neutron dose equivalent. The dose equivalent response and the detection level depend on detector material, nature and thickness of the radiator, energy and angle of incidence of the neutron, and the etching process. An automated ECE and reading system has been developed in RaMsEs laboratory. We compare the PN3 neutron dose equivalent response to 241 Am–Be neutrons without radiator for both CE and ECE.