Isotope resolution using plastic detectors

With the measured etch-rate calibration parameters, the isotope resolution properties of various plastic detectors can be assessed. It is found that, in general, plastics can resolve the isotopes of high-Z particles more readily than those of low-Z particles. For lower-Z particles, a more sensitive detector is required to achieve the same resolution. With the most sensitive detector available, namely cellulose nitrate, the etch-rate calibrations show that the mass number of individual particles with Z as low as 10 can be measured. The properties of different types of plastics and processing procedures, and their suitability for high-precision Z (and A) measurements, are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on using the proper data-reduction techniques and on having an accurate representation of the etch rate as a function of the several parameters involved.