Tracketchlevyjä

Tracketchlevyjä is a Finnish term that translates to "track etch records" or "track etching discs." This technique is a method used in materials science and nuclear physics for detecting and measuring charged particles, particularly neutrons. It relies on the principle that energetic charged particles can create microscopic damage trails, or "taches," when passing through certain solid materials, often polymers or plastics.

The process involves exposing a sensitive detector material, typically a thin film, to the particles being studied. When a charged particle interacts with the detector, it leaves a latent damage track. After exposure, the detector material is subjected to a chemical etching process. This etching selectively dissolves the material along the damage trails, enlarging them into visible or microscopically observable tracks. The length, width, and density of these etched tracks can then be analyzed to determine the type, energy, and flux of the incident particles. Track etch detectors are passive, meaning they do not require electricity and can be used in harsh environments. They are widely employed in applications such as neutron dosimetry, nuclear track radiography, and in scientific research involving particle detection.