The nature of fission fragment tracks in uranium dioxide

Abstract

Abstract Fission fragment tracks in single-crystal films of uranium dioxide have been observed by diffraction contrast for the first time, and the furrow-type tracks in polycrystalline vacuum-deposited films of uranium dioxide have been studied with the purpose of relating the two types of track. The difference in behaviour is explained in terms of exciton, electron and phonon reflection at the grain boundaries of the vacuum-deposited material.