Effect of gamma irradiation on optical absorption of nuclear track detectors like CR-39 was studied in different absorbed doses using ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy. The existence of the peaks, their shifting and broadening as a result of gamma irradiation has been discussed. The width of the tail of localized states in the band gap (Eu) was evaluated using the Urbach edge method. Finally the indirect and direct band gap in pristine and gamma irradiated CR-39 have been determined. The values of indirectly band gap have been found to be lower than the corresponding values of direct band gap. A decrease in the optical energy gap with increasing the gamma absorbed dose can be discussed on the basis of gamma-irradiation-induced defects in the CR-39. The correlation between optical band gap and the number of carbon atoms in a cluster with modified Tauc's equation has been discussed in case of CR-39.
Optical absorption; CR-39; UV-VIS spectra; Optical band gap
