Optical properties of individual etched tracks

Abstract Differentiation between etched tracks of different particles or particles of different energy is usually based on track size measurements. In addition, it is possible to take into account the optical properties of the tracks. In the present work the visual appearance of the tracks is calculated by means of track etching simulation and optical ray-tracing of a computer model of the track. From the digital image obtained the optical properties of tracks can be predicted and used for the quantitative description of the incoming particles. Apart from the already known optical track parameter, the average grey level, this work provides the possiblity for a theoretical study of other parameters, such as contrast and symmetry