A cloud chamber is a device used to visualize the path of particles as they move through the detector. It is typically created by generating a layer of supersaturated alcohol vapor within a chamber. As charged particles pass through the chamber, they ionize the air around them, acting as a condensation nucleus for the surrounding alcohol vapor. The result is a ghostly white trail in the wake of a charged particle. Using a cloud chamber, you can visualize alpha particles, protons, muons, and electrons.
The cloud chambers available for purchase are typically expensive and use dry ice to generate the necessary temperature differential. With this project, I aim to create a thermoelectrically controlled version that remains effective at a fraction of the price of commercially sold versions.
I began working on this project in the summer of 2025. I haven’t had time to work on it while the semester is ongoing, but I hope to pick it back up in the winter.