Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt.
Experimental Nuclear Physics Department, Nuclear Research Centre, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, 13759, Egypt.
Sci Rep. 2022 Aug 12;12(1):13728. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-17479-3.
Most particle detectors are based on the hypothesis that particles are emitted randomly upon nuclear decay. In the present work, we tested the hypothesis of the existence of correlation in the random trajectories of alpha particles emitted from [Formula: see text]Am source and the null hypothesis of random trajectories. The trajectories were clued through the registration of track in a solid-state nuclear track detector. The experimental parameters were optimized to identify the possible sources of correlation in the track registration and the detector conditions upon exposure and etching to avoid misleading results. The optimization included authentication of linearity in registration efficiency with exposure time to prevent coalescence of registered tracks. The statistical inference processes were based upon adaptive quadrates analysis of the spatial data, and entropy and divergence analysis of the quadrate data together with the null hypothesis of Poisson distribution of random trajectories. The clustering and dispersion analysis were performed with central deviation tendency, empirical K-function, radial distribution analysis, and proximity Analysis. Results showed a pattern of gained information within the registered tracks that may be attributed to the alteration in the alpha particles' trajectories induced by the strong electric field due to atoms in the source compound and encapsulation film.
粒子在核衰变时随机发射。在本工作中，我们检验了从[Formula: see text]Am 源发射的α粒子随机轨迹中存在相关性的假设和随机轨迹的零假设。轨迹是通过在固体核径迹探测器中记录轨迹来提示的。实验参数经过优化，以识别在轨迹记录和探测器暴露和蚀刻条件下可能存在的相关性来源，以避免产生误导性结果。优化包括验证注册效率与暴露时间的线性关系，以防止注册轨迹的合并。统计推断过程基于空间数据的自适应四元分析，以及四元数据的熵和散度分析，以及随机轨迹的泊松分布的零假设。聚类和分散分析采用中心偏差趋势、经验 K 函数、径向分布分析和接近度分析。结果显示了在注册轨迹内获得的信息模式，这可能归因于源化合物和封装膜中的原子引起的α粒子轨迹的改变。
