Etched-track kinetics in isotropic detectors

As the etching of a charged-particle track proceeds in a detector, three successive phases can be recognized; the 'cone phase', the 'transition phase', and the 'sphere phase'. Equations are derived to give the values of various useful etch-pit parameters, in particular those connected with the surface openings in the three phases. These values are of use in reconstructing the kinematics of the ionizing particle, such as its charge, mass, energy, and range. (author)