Radiation-Induced Nano-Explosions at the Solid Surface: Near Surface Radiation Damage in CR-39 Polymer

New measurements of fission fragment and alpha particle induced surface damage in the most sensitive and commonly used nuclear track detector CR-39 are presented here. Precisely designed and optimized exposure and chemical etching experiments are employed to unfold the structure of radiation induced surface damage (RISD). Delay in the startup of the chemical etching of latent tracks or surface radiation damage is measured and is found to contain important information about the structure of the surface damage. Simple atomic scale pictures of RISD and its chemical etching are developed in an empirical manner. Theoretical model and experimental findings coherently compose a realistic picture of early or femtosecond evolution of RISD.