The interaction of fission fragments with electron-beam charged polyfluoroethylene propylene

The interaction of fission fragments with electron-beam-charged polyfluoroethylene propylene (FEP) produces a detectable signal characteristic of the event. Both an electrical signal and luminescence were observed. Fission of /sup 235/U by thermal neutrons produces fission fragments with energies of 60 to 100 MeV that deposit their energy in 14 to 20 mu m of FEP. Aluminized FEP with a thickness of 25.4 mu m was charged to 10/sup -7/ C/cm/sup 2/ and exposed to fission fragments. They produced electrical pulses from charges of approximately 10/sup -16/ C that were induced on the electrodes. Uncoated electrets emitted a flash of light when struck by a fission fragment. Both phenomena were transient in that aging or annealing of the electret eliminated the signal. The size and transient nature of the electrical signal be explained by a charge-intersection model for the interaction of the ions.<
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