Sensitivity of BP-1 glass detectors etched in methanesulfonic acid

We recently discovered that methanesulfonic acid is a suitable etchant for BP-1 barium phosphate glass detectors. This paper reports on the sensitivity and charge resolution of BP-1 detectors etched in methanesulfonic acid in comparison with those etched in commonly used etchants such as hydrofluoric acid and fluoboric acid using 11 A GeV 197Au ions at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. This new etchant, as a replacement for hydrofluoric acid, is environmentally easy to handle and would have applications to relativistic heavy-ion studies. We also tested ethanesulfonic acid and found it has no practical use due to its extremely slow general etch rate. ((orig.))