The influence of heating of irradiated LiF crystals on the intensity of the registered tracks using Fluorescent Nuclear Track Detection (FNTD) technique

The method of fluorescent nuclear track detection (FNTD) using LiF crystals utilizes the photoluminescence of color centers generated in this material by ionizing radiation. By using a fluorescence microscope it is possible to observe tracks of single nuclear particles interacting with the detector. Thanks to LiF detectors, it was possible to image tracks after irradiation of crystals with alpha particles, neutrons, heavy ions and beta radiation. Unfortunately, this method has a low signal-to-noise ratio. It seems that the most feasible way to improve it, is by thermal treatment of LiF crystals. The data provided is a set of images acquired for a detector irradiated with alpha particles and then heated to temperatures ranging from room temperature to 360°C. Measurements were carried out at room temperature after cooling down the detector. The images show the change in the brightness of the tracks after applying the procedure of post-irradiation anealing. This work was supported by the National Science Centre, Poland (Contract No. UMO-2020/37/N/ST5/01975).