Gamma-Induced Modification on Optical Band Gap of CR-39 SSNTD

Effect of gamma irradiation on optical absorption of nuclear track detectors like CR-39 was studied in different absorbed doses using ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy. The existence of the peaks, their shifting and broadening as a result of gamma irradiation has been discussed. The width of the tail of localized states in the band gap (E-u) was evaluated using the Urbach edge method. Finally the indirect and direct band gap in pristine and gamma irradiated CR-39 have been determined. The values of indirectly band gap have been found to be lower than the corresponding values of direct band gap. A decrease in the optical energy gap with increasing the gamma absorbed dose can be discussed on the basis of gamma-irradiation-induced defects in the CR-39. The correlation between optical band gap and the number of carbon atoms in a cluster with modified Tauc's equation has been discussed in case of CR-39.