CC: Cloud Chamber

Although originally invented to investigate atmospheric cloud formation, the cloud chamber became better known as one of the earliest (and most fun to watch) subatomic particle tracking detectors. The CLOUD collaboration at CERN uses modern cloud chambers to study the effect of cosmic rays on atmospheric cloud formation, a controversial issue thought by some to be important for understanding climate change. Our Cloud Chamber can be used for a variety of special projects, such as studying cosmic rays, atmospheric radioactivity, electrostatic droplet formation, ....

Draft write-Up in PDF Format or LaTeX Format.

(The experiment is currently located in MP243)

Additional resources:

• Live Chart of Nuclides provides nuclear decay data such as gamma energies and beta spectra.

Photos:

• Cloud Chamber Setup (4 September 2014)
  
• Subatomic particle track in Cloud Chamber
  
• Co-60 radioactive source in Cloud Chamber. Are the tracks associated with gammas from the source?
  
• Cloud formation around cylindrical tower (26 September 2014). (See also full 185MB version.)