Wilson Cloud Chamber: Observing Cosmic Particles

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SUMMARY

The Wilson Cloud Chamber is an effective tool for visualizing the tracks of ionized cosmic particles, which are primarily cosmic rays. The chamber features transparent surfaces, typically glass, that allow for the observation of particle trails created by ionizing radiation as it interacts with vapor inside the chamber. The discussion raises questions about the interaction of large particles, such as alpha particles, with the solid glass structure and the types of secondary particles that can pass through the chamber. Understanding these interactions is crucial for comprehending the behavior of cosmic particles in experimental physics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of ionizing radiation
  • Familiarity with particle physics concepts
  • Knowledge of the structure and function of a Wilson Cloud Chamber
  • Understanding of cosmic rays and their origins
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the interaction of alpha particles with solid materials
  • Explore the types of secondary particles produced in cosmic ray showers
  • Study the principles of vapor saturation in Wilson Cloud Chambers
  • Investigate the historical significance of the Wilson Cloud Chamber in particle physics
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, educators, and students interested in particle physics, cosmic ray research, and experimental techniques for observing ionizing radiation.

RJ Emery
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A (Wilson) Cloud Chamber can show the tracks of ionized particles passing through it, typically emanating from outside the chamber and attributed to cosmic rays (more accurately described as cosmic particles). The chamber itself has one or more transparent surfaces, most commonly glass, through which the tracks can be observed.

1) What I do not understand is that the glass is more or less a solid substance and perhaps even a crystallized structure. How do these ionized particles, some of them quite large such as an alpha particle, pass through such barriers without interacting with the atoms or molecules therein?

2) Given a secondary particle shower, what particles so produced could pass through the chamber and which can not?
 
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The radioactive source is placed inside the chamber, or allowed to enter the chamber thru some aperture. The glass allows for the observation of the tracks created by the ionizing radiation traveling thru the vapor inside.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_chamber
 

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