Want to visualize radioactive particles? You don’t need a boatload of lab equipment. Just a cloud chamber. And [Curious Scientist] is showing off an improved miniature cloud chamber that is easy to replicate using a 3D printer and common components.
The build uses a Peltier module, a CPU cooler, an aluminum plate, thermal paste, and headlight film. The high voltage comes from a sacrificed mosquito swatter. The power input for the whole system is any 12V supply.
The cloud chamber was high tech back in 1911 when physicist Charles T. R. Wilson made ionizing radiation visible by creating trails of tiny liquid droplets in a supersaturated vapor of alcohol or water. Charged particles pass through, leaving visible condensation trails.
According to the post, the cost of everything is under $100. He hasn’t made the 3D printed parts freely available, but there are enough pictures that you can probably work it out yourself. Besides, you’d almost certainly have to rework it for your particular jar, anyway.
After all, a cloud chamber’s construction isn’t a state secret. We’ve seen some fancy Peltier-based designs. If you manage your expectations, you can build one for even less using a plastic bottle and ingenuity.
Pretty cool! What about doing it without 3D Printed parts, ordinary household items, discards, etc.? I don’t know what those parts are, please tell me the didn’t 3D Print a jar, for example. I’m one of those who doesn’t watch the videos because it’s sooooooooooooooo effing slow, I can read faster than a speedfreak can talk.
Lucky for you if you click the link it’s an article with an explanation and pictures. He does include a video but it’s only two and a half minutes long just to give an overview of the project.
Thank you!
And to think that Mr. Wilson created the cloud chamber, not because he wanted to study radiation, but because he once saw a Glory (a bright halo around his shadow cast onto the top of clouds) while at a high-altitude weather station, and he wanted to try to recreate the effect at home.
Are these things safe?
It’s an air fuel mixture with a high voltage source. Could it blow up?
Sounds like a skill issue to me.
Does the high voltage do anything useful at the energies and ranges of the particles typically seen? It seems more trouble than it’s worth.
My chambers worked well without any added electric field and the museum-grade cloud chambers I’ve seen don’t use an electric field.
What’s the deal on black “headlight film” (called “foil” by the OP).
I get there are some living arrangements where it’s easier than paint. (FWIW, I anodized mine, so painting is trivial).
But looking it up I see it’s actually, really sold as a dark film intended for DIY application over car headlights. WTF? Why would you do that? Is this just a style thing?
Mind you, if people want to muck with their headlights I’d prefer they apply this stuff rather than put the godforsaken retina-searing blue lights in.