Wilson Cloud Chamber (Requires 220V power source)

Up for grabs is a Wilson cloud chamber that I purchased off AliExpress last year. I never really got around to using it as it requires a 220V power source. The instructions that came with it are in Chinese however, I will include a copy translated into English.

A Wilson cloud chamber, also known as a cloud chamber, is a scientific instrument used to visualize the paths of charged particles as they move through a supersaturated vapor. Developed by Charles Wilson in 1911, the device operates by creating a sensitive environment where alcohol or water vapor is cooled rapidly, producing a state of supersaturation. When charged particles, such as alpha or beta particles, pass through the chamber, they ionize the gas molecules along their trajectory. The ions act as condensation nuclei, causing the vapor to condense into tiny droplets that form visible trails, or "tracks," revealing the path of the particles.

The chamber itself consists of a sealed enclosure with a transparent viewing window, often placed on a cold surface like dry ice to maintain a low temperature. Inside, a layer of alcohol is evaporated and cooled, forming the supersaturated vapor. By applying an electric field, the chamber can help guide the movement of the particles and improve visibility of their tracks. The tracks can differ in appearance depending on the type and energy of the particles, providing insights into their properties. Wilson cloud chambers were pivotal in early particle physics research, enabling scientists to study phenomena such as cosmic rays and the interactions of subatomic particles.