Analysis of the evolution of latent tracks in polyvinylidene fluoride

Latent tracks induced by swift heavy ions in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) are analyzed using the experimental results from publications on small angle X-ray scattering, X-ray diffraction and piezoelectricity. The thermal spike model provides a correct analytical description of the track evolution above a threshold electronic stopping power S(et) and S(et) = 3.75 keV/nm is deduced from the fits. Estimates are made for S(et) and for the rate of track evolution versus S(e) using the density, specific heat and melting point of PVDF and good agreement with the experiments is obtained. Strong temperature dependence of track evolution is predicted for S(e) > 3.75 keV/nm. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.