Peltier Cloud Chamber exposed to x-rays (extended version)

Recently, a self inspired inquiry arose as to whether or not the cloud chamber would respond to x-rays. Lacking a suitable x-ray source, a local dentist's assistance was employed. The chamber was placed on top of the examination/ patient chair and the x-ray head aligned parallel to and in the same plane with the cloud chamber base. Upon leaving the room, the dental x-ray technician ramped the voltage up and down over a roughly a one minute period. The voltage was never increased beyond 60% to avoid damaging the x-ray device. The result is interesting. When increased and maintained at 30% of full voltage, tracks appear curved and bright. When then increased to 60% (seen at 0:12- 0:17 sec), the tracks become very short almost to the point of disappearing. The power reduction then brings about tracks again before the unit is switched off. The dental generator used at the office was a 60 Kv, 7 mA unit.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• uranium
• uraninite
• thorium
• cloud
• chamber
• peltier
• xrays
• x-rays
• dry
• ice

[GumokCZ]

The cloud chamber is so amazing machine...

[kent5915]

@MrMicromeow

this shows how poorly understood the science of nucleation is. Specifically the tensile layer requires energy (endothermic if u want) and is a function of surface area. The other energy is latent heat of condensation (exothermic if u want) and is really a function of volume (but not in the traditional way) Anyhow for small droplets the surface area term prevails over the volume terms - result is small droplets requires energy to form and the xrays obviously provide it Kent

[MrMicromeow]

perhaps you see photoelectric effect first, when the gamma ray energy become enough, you see compton effect, more energye (1,02Mev) and you can see pair production

Do you know the energy of the gamma ray for each voltage?

thanks for this rare video showing xray+cloud chamber