Coincidence mapping - A key strategy for the automatic counting of fission tracks in natural minerals

Abstract

We report on new image-analysis techniques that, for the first time, provide a practical solution to the problem of fully automated counting of fission tracks in natural minerals, a longdesired goal in fission-track dating. Specific challenges to be overcome have been the discrimination of fission tracks from non-track defects, polishing scratches, etc.; resolving multiple track overlaps; and reliable identification of small tracks amongst a similarly sized background of surface defects, fluid inclusions, etc. Most previous attempts at automated image analysis have failed in one or more of these tasks. The central component of our system is called 'coincidence mapping' and utilizes two image..