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The characteristics of heavy ion tracks in phosphate glasses after irradiation under various temperature conditions are presented. Calibration experiments are performed to obtain the dependence of the parameters of the etched tracks on the sample heating temperature and time and on the moment of heating a sample in relation to irradiation and etching. To effectively identify the ion charges, the stability of reproducing the optimum chemical etching conditions (etching chemical solution composition, concentration, etching time) is strictly observed in processing irradiated glasses. The results obtained allow us to conclude that phosphate glasses can be effectively used to detect and identify the superheavy nuclei synthesized at the Factory of Superheavy Elements of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection and identification of heavy ions in phosphate glasses is based on an analysis of geometric parameters of tracks that manifest themselves upon the etching of irradiated glasses in a special solution. The shape and size of emerging tracks depend both on the parameters of the ions being studied (charge, energy, and angle of incidence) and on the etching conditions (etchant composition and concentration and etching time). Phosphate glass belongs to the class of solid-state tracking detectors whose principle of operation relies on the fact that multiply charged particles destroy a local solid-state structure along their trajectory. This local damage can be intensified by means of subsequent etching, whereby the tracks under study are visualized. The damaged parts of the material react with an etchant more intensely than intact parts do. This reaction leads to the formation of characteristic etching cones.The radiation damage of the material is proportional, as well as the specific energy loss of charged particles is, to the square of the particle charge and also depends on the particle speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]