Localization and track evaluation of HZE particles

Buecker et al. (1974) have developed a track-etching technique in which the region of incidence of high-Z particles can be determined within the accuracy required to correlate particle penetration and the biological effect. The experimental arrangement in the Biostack experiments consists of track detectors in the form of nuclear emulsions, silver chloride crystals, and plastic detectors. In the present paper, a new technique, termed 'individual etching' is described in which cellulose nitrate is used as the detector material to improve the determination accuracy of the region of incidence. The idea is to apply a drop of etching solution to the area of an etch cone produced by pre-etching in the bath for a short time to make the track visible.