How to Build a Cloud Chamber! Cosmic Ray and explosion of Electrons
Cloud chamber with cosmic ray and explosions of electrons.
The electrons I shoot with a copper pin into the center of the chamber.
The copper pin has a electric static load which has been charge with a little pvc pipe.
Building instructions cloud chamber.
1pc power supply
1 Cooling block with 3 heat pipes
Thermal paste
Attach 1 small super fan to the cooling block.
2 peltier elements TEC1-12706 Thermoelectric Cooler Peltier 12V 6A 40x40mm
1 aluminum plate of 70x70mm and 1.5mm thick, on one side a thin layer of matte black lacquer.
A few clean and scratch-free transparent CD cases (needed for making the room)
2 small super sponges (for the alcohol)
1 bottle of spirits
7 x 5mm white super LEDs
High density black foam rubber insulation material
In the PC power supply, connect the green cable to one of the black cables.
Use the 12vdc and 5vdc for the peltier elements.
Stack the 2 Peltier elements on top of each other with the hot side down on the cooler.
Warning, use thermal paste between both Peltier elements and the cooler plus the aluminum plate (all surfaces require thermal paste).
Connect the bottom Peltier element to 12 volts DC
Connect the top Peltier element to 5 volts DC
Connect the 7 LEDs in parallel and connect to 5 or 3VDC from the PC power supply (check the specifications of the LEDs for the correct voltage). Attach the LEDs at a height of 5mm from the aluminum plate (measured from the center of the LEDs)
Cut 76x76mm plates from the CD cases with a Stanley knife, these are needed to make the room. Cutting out is easy with a metal ruler, a few strokes and breaking off. After this, the plates can be glued together with thinner.
If all is well, you can already see the cosmic rays at -18c.
With this configuration, the cloud chamber can reach a temperature of -30c, depending on the ambient temperature (the lower the ambient temperature, the better the result).
Bio alcohol = 95% Ethanol works very good.
Jan Vaessen (Nedstar)