William Havens and Cloud Chamber

Summary
Full Description

W. W. Havens, Associate Professor of Physics at Columbia University, scans the screen of the cloud chamber, watching the tracks of the nuclear particles. The chamber, set up in the basement of the Pupin Laboratories building at Columbia University, is an apparatus for making visible the paths of sub-microscopic nuclear particles. A cloud is created in the confined volume by the sudden expansion of the air in the chamber, causing a super-saturation of that air with water vapor. When the nuclear particles traverse this cloud, droplets are formed along the paths of the particles due to the ionization of the air molecules. This path is readily photographed with a strong light source and an ordinary camera. The unit into which Professor Havens is peering, is the viewer and the chamber itself. The large section below is the mechanism required to suddenly expand the air in the chamber. All together, the apparatus weighs approximately 300 pounds., Credit Line: AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives

Abstract/Description:	W. W. Havens, Associate Professor of Physics at Columbia University, scans the screen of the cloud chamber, watching the tracks of the nuclear particles. The chamber, set up in the basement of the Pupin Laboratories building at Columbia University, is an apparatus for making visible the paths of sub-microscopic nuclear particles. A cloud is created in the confined volume by the sudden expansion of the air in the chamber, causing a super-saturation of that air with water vapor. When the nuclear particles traverse this cloud, droplets are formed along the paths of the particles due to the ionization of the air molecules. This path is readily photographed with a strong light source and an ordinary camera. The unit into which Professor Havens is peering, is the viewer and the chamber itself. The large section below is the mechanism required to suddenly expand the air in the chamber. All together, the apparatus weighs approximately 300 pounds.
Subject(s):	Eyeglasses Laboratories Equipment and supplies Bubble chambers Nuclear physics--Research Havens, William W. (William Westerfield), 1920-2004
Credit Line:	AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives
Catalog ID:	Havens William F2

Title:	William Havens and Cloud Chamber.
Type of Resource:	still image
Extent:	2 photographic prints (black and white; 5 x 7 inches)
Abstract/Description:	W. W. Havens, Associate Professor of Physics at Columbia University, scans the screen of the cloud chamber, watching the tracks of the nuclear particles. The chamber, set up in the basement of the Pupin Laboratories building at Columbia University, is an apparatus for making visible the paths of sub-microscopic nuclear particles. A cloud is created in the confined volume by the sudden expansion of the air in the chamber, causing a super-saturation of that air with water vapor. When the nuclear particles traverse this cloud, droplets are formed along the paths of the particles due to the ionization of the air molecules. This path is readily photographed with a strong light source and an ordinary camera. The unit into which Professor Havens is peering, is the viewer and the chamber itself. The large section below is the mechanism required to suddenly expand the air in the chamber. All together, the apparatus weighs approximately 300 pounds.
Identifier(s):	Havens William F2 (Catalog ID)
Note(s):	Credit Line: AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives
Subject(s):	Eyeglasses Laboratories Equipment and supplies Bubble chambers Nuclear physics--Research Havens, William W. (William Westerfield), 1920-2004
Held by:	Niels Bohr Library & Archives
Related Title:	Emilio Segrè Visual Archives General Collection. https://libserv.aip.org/ipac20/ipac.jsp?uri=full=3100006~!4022~!0&ri=3&menu=search&source=~!horizon
In Collections:	Emilio Segrè Visual Archives General Collection