Geometry calculations for angular distribution measurements of recoil products of high-energy nuclear reactions

The effects of finite target and catcher size on angular distribution data obtained with cylindrical recoil catchers are calculated. The effect of the dropoff in beam intensity between the leading edge and the back end of the target is included. Results for the average recoil angle and total solid angle of each catcher strip and for the angular overlap between adjacent strips are presented for two typical target-catcher configurations. Improvements in resolution obtainable by cutting the catcher foils along constant recoil angle lines instead of vertically are described. (Auth.)