Fission Track Age
Calculate supplied zeta-calibrated fission-track age and independent Poisson specimen-count uncertainty; geometry and reference density are explicit, and annealing/zeta/dosimeter uncertainties are not inferred.
Description
A zeta-calibrated fission-track age combines specimen track ratios with reference density and calibration.
A zeta-calibrated fission-track age combines specimen track ratios with reference density and calibration. Specimen counting uncertainty is only one part of dating uncertainty.1
Calculate supplied zeta-calibrated fission-track age and independent Poisson specimen-count uncertainty; geometry and reference density are explicit, and annealing/zeta/dosimeter uncertainties are not inferred.
When to use Fission Track Age
Use this tool to calculate supplied zeta-calibrated fission-track age and independent Poisson specimen-count uncertainty; geometry and reference density are explicit, and annealing/zeta/dosimeter uncertainties are not inferred.
Prepare the artifact, site or survey measurements and any independently established calibration or model choices. Keep paired observations aligned and confirm units and coordinate conventions.
How to use Fission Track Age and understand its results
- Prepare the artifact, site or survey measurements and any independently established calibration or model choices. Keep paired observations aligned and confirm units and coordinate conventions.
- Enter spontaneousTrackCount, inducedTrackCount, referenceTrackDensity, calibrationZetaYearsAreaPerTrack, geometryFactor, decayConstantPerYear using the field table and calculation rules, then run the tool.
- Read fissionTrackAgeScenarioYears, countingAgeSigmaYears. The explanation below defines the units, signs, ordering and any flags or placeholder values.
- If the tool reports an input issue, correct the values and run it again. Apply the stated assumptions when interpreting a successfully returned result.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type; see rules below | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| spontaneousTrackCount | Spontaneous track count | integer | Required |
| inducedTrackCount | Induced track count | integer | Required |
| referenceTrackDensity | Reference track density | number | Required |
| calibrationZetaYearsAreaPerTrack | Calibration zeta years area per track | number | Required |
| geometryFactor | Geometry factor | number | Required |
| decayConstantPerYear | Decay constant per year | number | Required |
Enter positive integer spontaneous and induced track counts and positive reference density, zeta calibration, geometry factor and decay constant in compatible units. Return years from the logarithmic relation and counting sigma [a/(1+a)/λ]√(1/spontaneous+1/induced), assuming independent Poisson counts.
a = λ ζ geometry × referenceDensity × spontaneous/induced; age = log1p(a)/λ Units, indexing, boundary conditions and exceptional cases are defined in the calculation rules above.
| Output field | Meaning | Value type |
|---|---|---|
| fissionTrackAgeScenarioYears | Fission track age scenario years | number |
| countingAgeSigmaYears | Counting age sigma years | number |
{
"input": {
"spontaneousTrackCount": 20,
"inducedTrackCount": 10,
"referenceTrackDensity": 100,
"calibrationZetaYearsAreaPerTrack": 10,
"geometryFactor": 0.5,
"decayConstantPerYear": 0.001
},
"output": {
"fissionTrackAgeScenarioYears": 693.1471805599452,
"countingAgeSigmaYears": 193.64916731037084
}
}Limitations and assumptions
Annealing, zeta and dosimeter uncertainty, covariance and thermal history are not included. Consistent area and time units are supplied assumptions; this is a calibrated age scenario.
Numeric inputs must be finite. Follow the calculation-specific rules for overflow, underflow and exceptional cases. Missing required fields, extra fields, wrong value types and violations of the calculation rules are input errors.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use Thermoluminescence Dose Rate: Combine supplied attenuated radiation dose components plus cosmic dose and independent component uncertainty; attenuation uncertainties/covariance and dose-rate histories remain caller concerns. For a complementary task, use OSL Age: Infer residual-corrected OSL age with independent dose/rate uncertainties, retaining signed residual nondetections; assumes full resetting and constant effective dose rate, not a validated burial age.
References
-
Fission Track Age — tool.io
Similar or alternative tools
- Thermoluminescence Dose Rate
Combine supplied attenuated radiation dose components plus cosmic dose and independent component uncertainty; attenuation uncertainties/covariance and dose-rate histories remain caller concerns.
- OSL Age
Infer residual-corrected OSL age with independent dose/rate uncertainties, retaining signed residual nondetections; assumes full resetting and constant effective dose rate, not a validated burial age.