Target normalization in Rutherford scattering rates ($S\propto \mathcal{N}{Z}^2$)

At fixed incident flux, projectile energy and detector geometry, the Rutherford differential cross-section gives count rate $S\propto \mathcal{N}{Z}^2$, where $\mathcal{N}$ is the target nuclei per unit area. Equal $\mathcal{N}$ gives a $Z^2$ rate ratio. Equal foil mass per area instead gives $Z^2/A$, with $A$ the atomic mass number, while equal physical thickness also requires the material mass density. An empirical log-log plot with slope $s$ supplies a different, experimentally normalized relation $S\propto A^s$. These normalizations must be specified before comparing different target elements.