Automated scanning of track recorders having variable track density

A method for determining true track density from a track scan of a solid state track recorder of a dosimeter, wherein the track scan considers any connected array of lines and points as a single track, comprising the steps of:

• determining observed track density in each of a plurality of areal fields of the solid state track recorders by optically scanning the recorder in two dimensional space;
• determining a true track density by a first method of determining a function representing the average area for track pile up and applying that function to observed track density;
• determining a true track density by a second method of calculating the probability of track overlap based upon track density and applying that probability to observed track density;
• determining a true track density by a third method of observing the amount of light transmitted through an observed field compared to light transmitted through that field if without tracks and applying that function to observed track density;
• applying only one of aforesaid methods of determining true track density in a particular measured field where that method has higher accuracy;
• summing all such true track densities over all observed fields to determine true track density of a solid state track recorder.

A method for measuring true track density from observed track density in an optically transparent solid state track recorder, comprising the steps of:

• determining the amount of light transmitted through a given area A.sub.0 of the solid state track recorder having no tracks recorded therein;
• determining the amount of light transmitted through a plurality of similar areas A.sub.i from a number of similar solid state track recorder standards with tracks registered therein;
• determining from measurements of said standards a function F.sub.0 relating true track density to light transmission in each A.sub.i measured;
• determining true track density of each area A.sub.i by applying the aforesaid function Fo to the light transmission in each A.sub.i ;
• and
• summing the true track density so determined over all areas A.sub.i to determine true track density of the solid state track recorder.