SLM confocal microscopy: an improved way of viewing fission tracks

Fission track analysis as a geochronological, and more recently a palaeothermal technique is a lengthy process, often complicated by problems of track recognition. While recent developments in computerized track counting systems should lead to improved efficiency, they still rely on transmitted light as the principal means of track detection, and do not deal with the problem of track recognition. We present here some preliminary results using confocal scanning laser microscopy (SLM) of a study of fission tracks in apatitite from the Fish Canyon tuff, and show how the technique can lead to improvements in track identification. -Authors