Calibration of the Makrofol-DE nuclear track detector using relativistic lead ions

We present the calibration of the Makrofol-DE nuclear track detector (NTD) using Pb-ions of 158 GeV/amu. Improvements in the post-etched surfaces, reduction in the surface background of the Makrofol-DE NTDs and high-contrast tracks were achieved with the appropriate addition of ethyl alcohol in KOH aqueous solutions. The calibration of Makrofol-DE has shown for the first time all the peaks arising due to nuclear fragments with Z⩾52. The measurement of the cone heights shows well-separated individual peaks for Z/β=59-82 and 83 (charge pickup).