TOOLS I BUILT
DIFFUSION CLOUD CHAMBER
Continuous diffusion cloud chamber that visualizes charged-particle tracks, cooled by stacked Peltier modules - no liquid nitrogen or dry ice.
operational
- Year
- 2023
- Cooling
- Stacked Peltier (Thermoelectric) Modules
TEC1-12706 PELTIER STACK - COLD STAGE ASSEMBLY
THERMOELECTRIC PARTICLE DETECTOR WITH ELECTROSTATIC SWEEP
01 / The build
Behind the project.
Built a continuously operating diffusion cloud chamber for observing subatomic particle tracks at atmospheric pressure. A thermoelectric (Peltier) cooling stack drives the baseplate to sub-zero temperatures while isopropyl alcohol vapor forms a supersaturated layer in which particle trails condense; an electric clearing field keeps the active volume free of background ions.
02 / In the workshop
Project media.
4 photos & media · Tap to expand
Technical details
Under the hood.
- Cooling
- Stacked Peltier (Thermoelectric) Modules
- Working Fluid
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Clearing Field
- Electrostatic Grid
Notes & outcomes
What came out of it.
- Continuous operation without cryogens.
- Real-time subatomic particle track visualization.
Keep exploring