Calibration of the Makrofol–DE nuclear track detector using relativistic lead ions

Abstract We present the calibration of the Makrofol–DE nuclear track detector (NTD) using Pb-ions of 158 GeV/amu. Improvements in the post-etched surfaces, reduction in the surface background of the Makrofol–DE NTDs and high-contrast tracks were achieved with the appropriate addition of ethyl alcohol in KOH aqueous solutions. The calibration of Makrofol–DE has shown for the first time all the peaks arising due to nuclear fragments with Z ⩾ 52 . The measurement of the cone heights shows well-separated individual peaks for Z / β = 59 – 82 and 83 (charge pickup).