Cellulose triacetate track detectors for the measurement of abundances of solar cosmic ray heavy ions of helium to iron

Abstract

In this work we describe the first detailed studies of the techniques of the cellulose triacetate solid state track detector for the measurements of the relative abundances and energy spectra of He, C, N, O, Ne, Mg and Si-ions emitted in two solar flares of January 24 and September 1, 1971. The energy region studied was 3–30 MeV per nucleon. We describe herein the detector systems used, the etching procedures adopted, the scanning, measurement, charge identification and charge calibration techniques employed and the method of energy measurement used. It is shown that with appropriate techniques, it is possible to obtain good charge resolution and accurate energy measurement for low energy ions of all the major elements in the range of helium to iron.