Kinematical analysis of heavy ion induced nuclear reactions observed with SSNTDs [solid state nuclear track detectors]

Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors offer a simple and inexpensive method for the observation and analysis of multibody processes in heavy ion reactions. One of the important advantages of this technique is that each of the events can be studied individually and kinematically complete measurements can be performed. It is thus an inherently exclusive method. Quantitative analysis is made possible by a method which is based on the requirements of momentum conservation and the empirical mass-dependent velocity-range relation for heavy reaction products registered in a specific detector material. Using the measured three dimensional coordinates of correlated tracks, it is possible to determine reaction characteristics such as total kinetic energy loss, mass transfer, scattering angles etc. These quantities are then used to reconstruct the reaction scheme. In this review, the methodology of this technique is discussed along with some of the important results obtained over the years by different groups. (author)