Element and isotope separation for a heavy ion cosmic ray telescope with large geometrical factor

The charge and mass response of a space-borne solid state cosmic ray detection system (Si detectors) for heavy ions is discussed. Its large geometrical factor causes pathlength variations due to the large opening angle of the telescope, and to the thickness non-uniformity of the thin large area detectors. Accelerator experiments with 147 MeV and 402 MeV 20Ne beams have been performed and the effect of the pathlength variations in addition to the intrinsic energy-straggling distribution on the heavy ion identification is presented. (orig.)