Review Reports

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Please find the attached review report.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment (pdf file with cover letter and revised manuscript). This document should be forwarded to both reviewers!

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript by Zheng et al describes the design and analysis of a polarimeter for 3He ions, for use in laser-plasma interaction studies. Overall, the manuscript is well-written, and the analysis is methodologically sound, with the authors addressing the various challenges associated with background signal and statistical error measurements. I only have some minor comments, addressing mainly the formatting of the paper, otherwise I recommend publication in Instruments.

 

·      A more in depth description of laser parameters would be good – i.e. peak intensity, focal spot size, etc.

 

·      Line 94 – “He2+ ions are accelerated twice as strong as He1+”, a reference here should be provided, and brief explanation as to why (i.e. the accelerating field being proportional to charge-mass ratio)

 

·      Units are consistently not given throughout the manuscript, e.g. Line 136 – “…temperature of 75 for 60”, please give units for temperature and time here. Line 178, 189 and 190 – length and temperature units again not given, line 191 what are units of diameter, this is a persistent theme throughout the paper.

 

·      Lines 199-201 – formatting issues need fixed.

 

·      Section 3.1 – more formatting issues.

Author Response

Please see the attachment (pdf file with cover letter and revised manuscript). This document should be forwarded to both reviewers!

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Editor,

 

The authors have addressed most of the comments adequately in the revised manuscript.

I just have one more suggestion.

Please consider adding one or two more references regarding the conditions for track formation in CR-39. 

 

In conclusion, I recommend publication of the revised manuscript in Instruments.

Author Response

We added another reference on track formation in CR-39 to the manuscript:

[33] P. B. Price, and R. L. Fleischer, Identification of energetic heavy nuclei with solid dielectric track detectors: application to astrophysical and planetary studies, Annu. Rev. Nucl. Sci. 21, 295-334 (1971).