C.T.R. Wilson and the cloud chamber

A brief history of C.T.R. Wilson’s invention of the cloud chamber is presented. Initially, the research programme concerned the origin of the atmospheric phenomena he had experienced as a temporary meteorological observer on Ben Nevis. As his understanding of the physical conditions under which the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Astroparticle physics 2014-01, Vol.53, p.55-60
Main Author: Longair, Malcolm
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cloud chamber
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Summary:A brief history of C.T.R. Wilson’s invention of the cloud chamber is presented. Initially, the research programme concerned the origin of the atmospheric phenomena he had experienced as a temporary meteorological observer on Ben Nevis. As his understanding of the physical conditions under which the condensation of water droplets took place from supersaturated water vapour developed, he realised that the technique provided the first way of imaging the tracks of the charged particles released by X-rays, in radioactive decays and in nuclear interactions.
ISSN:0927-6505
1873-2852
DOI:10.1016/j.astropartphys.2013.01.010