2 INTRODUCTION
Radioactivity is a subject in our society which has been
playing an important role throughout politics, economy and
media for many years now. The fact that this radiation cannot
be seen or felt by the human being and that the effects of this
radiation are not fully explored yet, causes emotions like no
other scientific subject before.
The high-performance diffusion cloud chamber by PHYWE
Systeme GmbH & Co. KG serves for making the tracks of
cosmic and terrestrial radiation visible so that a wide range of
natural radiation types can be identified. Furthermore, the
diffusion cloud chamber offers the opportunity to carry out
physical experiments with the aid of artificial radiation
sources.
3 DESIGN AND OPERATION
The cloud chamber consists of a chamber base and the
observation chamber. The chamber base comprises a
cooling element, a power supply, an alcohol reservoir, an
alcohol pump and a programmable time switch. The
observation chamber is placed onto the chamber base.
The bottom of the observation chamber is formed by a
massive, black metal plate (surface 45 cm x 45 cm) which is
cooled over the whole surface to about -30°C by means of
the cooling element.
The top plate and the side plates of the observation chamber
consist of two glass hoods which are placed one into the
other. A grid of fine heating wires (
17
) is placed between the
upper two glass plates. These wires serve for heating this
area of the chamber thus keeping the hood free from
condensation. At the same time they are held at high voltage
thus generating an electric field that attracts the ions.
09046.90... 99
Diffusion cloud chamber PJ45
09046.90… 99/0709
1 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
• Carefully read these operating instructions completely
before operating this instrument. This is necessary to avoid
damage to it, as well as for user-safety.
• Only use the instrument for the purpose for which it was
designed.
• Check that your mains supply voltage corresponds to that
given on the type plate fixed to the instrument.
• Only use the instrument in dry rooms in which there is no
risk of explosion.
• Do not operate the system when obvious damages or leaks
are visible.
• Install the instrument so that the on/off switch and the
mains connecting plug are easily accessible. Do not cover
the ventilation slots.
• Only use an extension cable or a multiple socket when
absolutely necessary.
• Wait at least 2 hours before putting the cloud chamber into
operation to check that no faults have occurred to the
refrigeration system during transport.
• Always unplug the mains plug before carrying out cleaning
or maintenance work.
PHYWE Systeme GmbH & Co. KG
Robert-Bosch-Breite 10
D-37079 Göttingen
Phone
+49 (0) 551 604-0
Fax
+49 (0) 551 604-107
Internet www.phywe.de
Operating instructions
www.phywe.de, © All rights reserved
1
Fig. 1: Diffusion cloud chamber PJ45, 09046.93.
The unit complies
with the corresponding
EC guidelines.
