Determination of ranges of accelerated heavy ions in plastic track detectors

Attempts have been made to determine the ranges of different accelerated heavy ions in plastic track detectors. Detector samples have been irradiated with heavy ions from Cyclotron beams at JINR, Dubna (U.S.S.R.). The maximum etched track lengths are compared with the theoretical ranges as well as with the ranges reported by earlier workers. The maximum etched track lengths agree with the calculated ranges within 2%. The distribution of track lengths reveal that tight distributions are obtained for heavily ionizing particles while for light particles broad distribution occur. The bulk etch rate versus residual range curves exhibit an asymptotic behaviour at very low values of V which indicate that there is no sharp registration threshold in plastic detectors used in the study. (author)