Comments on: clouds without dust!

clouds without dust!

jessamyn — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:06:38 -0800

The cloud chamber may no longer the particle detector of choice (that would be the bubble chamber) but easy to build yourself (in modern or vintage style) and watch cosmic rays in the comfort of your own home.

By: vacapinta

vacapinta — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:51:18 -0800

I recall building a cloud chamber as a kid - just for the fun of it, not even for a science project or anything. And I think bubble chambers are gorgeous things, as seen in that previous mefi post. That said, bubble chambers themselves are gone and have been replaced by drift chambers.

By: neuron

neuron — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 23:03:02 -0800

Unbelievable. I was just thinking earlier today that I want to build a cloud chamber (something I've wanted to do for about 30 years). A couple of days ago I checked out A Thin Cosmic Rain from the library. I'm only 1/4 of the way through it, but I've read enough to recommend it. Oh, and I have 25+ pages of how-to-build-a-cloud-chamber from Scientific American's Amateur Scientist from the olden days. I'll try to scan and post 'em tonight.

By: hattifattener

hattifattener — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 23:04:37 -0800

That's pretty cool (excuse the pun) ... a much easier way to build a cloud chamber in your kitchen than the traditional piston type. You know, if you want to see what kinds of ionizing radiation your food is giving off.

By: hattifattener

hattifattener — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 23:05:49 -0800

neuron: Is it an Amateur Scientist column? You can get the entire run of that column on CD now (or you can hunt down Stong's book, long out of print).

By: pombe

pombe — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 23:32:18 -0800

There is a beautiful cloud chamber at the Exploratorium - I spent quite a while watching it last time I was there. I would really like to build one into a coffee table or something similar.

By: neuron

neuron — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 00:14:14 -0800

neuron: Is it an Amateur Scientist column? You can get the entire run of that column on CD now (or you can hunt down Stong's book, long out of print). It is the chapter from Stong's book. I've scanned the chapter and made a PDF, but it's turned out a little too big (26 MB) for my Comcast file storage thingy.

By: neuron

neuron — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 00:37:46 -0800

Here it is, although I don't like hosting it there. For a limited time only.

By: arialblack

arialblack — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 01:13:29 -0800

The NY Hall of Science has a cloud chamber exhibit. i believe it's one of these

By: claudius

claudius — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 06:00:30 -0800

Neuron: Thankyou!

By: noble_rot

noble_rot — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 11:11:43 -0800

That said, bubble chambers themselves are gone and have been replaced by drift chambers. That's so 1980s. They has these newfangled Silicon Vertex Trackers now. (Although they are almost always used in conjuction with drift chambers).

By: pombe

pombe — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 11:32:01 -0800

arialblack - it looks like the Exploratorium cloud chamber is also from Phywe. I wonder how much it would cost to buy one.

By: Luddite

Luddite — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 06:21:57 -0800

Nice. Back in the (not so old) day, a number of my fellow undergraduates were lumbered with getting these things working as a final project. Various write-ups and things live here.