Speaker
Description
Cloud chambers were important detectors to make visible, and in some cases discover, some of the most fundamental particles. While they have been replaced by more sophisticated detectors, they remain great interactive tools for outreach and educational purposes. We developed a Peltier-cooled cloud chamber to create a tangible and interesting demonstration of fundamental principles of particle and nuclear physics. Strong emphasis has been placed on using commercially available, accessible components. Four Peltier modules are cooled using a computer air-cooler while copper components mediate heat-transfer, creating the necessary conditions of vapor supersaturation to see alpha particle condensation trails from a radioactive source. While examples of hobby cloud-chamber builds exist, the scale and thoroughness of this construction and subsequent publication aim to serve as an easy-to-follow guide, allowing this cloud chamber build to be reproduced by educators as an outreach tool.
| What area of study best describes your talk? | Education / Outreach / EDI |
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