AWAN is my first cloud chamber assembly. The chamber itself is commercially available and were "upgraded" by fitting it with a small diaphragm vacuum pump, a simple homemade high voltage source, and a lamp to provide all basic necessities to operate an expansion cloud chamber without the physical strain of keeping all parts stationary during expansion cycles.
The primary objectives of AWAN was:
- A test if building a decent cloud chamber within DIY budget is possible. (ACHIEVED)
- To show that expansion cloud chamber can be operated without hand-powered pumps. (ACHIEVED)
- To show decent photography of particle tracks are achievable and measurable through optimisation with expansion type cloud chambers.
The secondary objectives of AWAN are:
- To replicate the observation of alpha particle scattering collisions by P. M. S. Blackett.
- To replicate the observation of the first nuclear transmutation, also by P. M. S. Blackett.
UNIQUE FEATURE
- Able to adjust ion-clearing voltage.
- Able to change types of gases as target.
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Expansion Cloud Chamber (Wilson's design)
Completion: May 2020
Sensitive Area: 63.6 cm² (90 mm diameter)
Sensitive Depth: 2 cm
Sensitive Volume: 127.2 cm³
Ion Sweep Field Voltage: 500 V to 1000 V, adjustable
Lighting: CREE LED lamp, fixed position
Magnetic system: No. Variety of small NdFeB magnets less than 10 mm thickness
Vacuum system: 12 V membrane vacuum pump @ ~12 L/min (6 mm tube connector)
Operating pressure: -60 to -65 cmHg
Valve type: Manual press-valve
Operating Voltage: 12 VDC
Operating Current: 0.13 A nominal (auxiliary ventilation)
0.28 A with lamp
1.30 A with lamp and pump
1.74 A with lamp, pump, and sweep field voltage at maximum
GALLERY
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| Overall box design of AWAN assembly. The device is powered by 12 VDC; the rear end shows the auxiliary ventilating fan and an exhaust port from the built-in vacuum pump. |
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| Control panel of AWAN assembly. The valve is operated manually. |
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