Identification of heavy ions in AgCl monocrystals by means of multiple coulomb scattering

Abstract The scattering constant of AgCl monocrystals was estimated by comparing the multiple Coulomb scattering of stopping 16 O ions as a function of residual range in an AgCl monocrystal and in Ilford G5 nuclear emulsion. The ratio of scattering constants for the two media was found to be 1.255±0.038, as compared to the theoretical prediction of 1.273. Absence of sizeable distortion in the monocrystal was checked by measurements on fast 16 O ion tracks. The reading noise level on the AgCl tracks was found to be at most equal to that in nuclear emulsion. From the observed dispersions it is estimated that a track length of 8 mm in the monocrystal should be sufficient to estimate the ion charge within one unit.