Calibration of a solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD) with high detection threshold to search for rare events in cosmic rays

TL;DR

This study evaluates polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a solid state nuclear track detector with a high detection threshold, suitable for rare cosmic ray event searches, by analyzing its charge response to specific ions and calibrating its performance.

Contribution

It introduces PET as a new SSNTD material with a high detection threshold, providing calibration data and characterization for rare event detection in cosmic rays.

Findings

PET has a higher detection threshold than many existing SSNTDs.

Charge response of PET to specific ions was systematically characterized.

Calibration curve for PET as a nuclear track detector was established.

Abstract

We have investigated a commercially available polymer for its suitability as a solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD). We identified that polymer to be polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and found that it has a higher detection threshold compared to many other widely used SSNTDs which makes this detector particularly suitable for rare event search in cosmic rays as it eliminates the dominant low Z background. Systematic studies were carried out to determine its charge response which is essential before any new material can be used as an SSNTD. In this paper we describe the charge response of PET to 129Xe, 78Kr and 49Ti ions from the REX-ISOLDE facility at CERN, present the calibration curve for PET and characterize it as a nuclear track detector.