3 ms·

Photographing Radioactivity with a Webcam

• cjslep 12y ago
  > Although a webcam can detect high-energy particles without modification, it's necessary to modify it by removing the glass protective filter on the sensor to get maximum efficiency for low-energy particles such as alphas. First, "alphas" are not necessarily "low-energy particles". Energy and particle type are orthogonal. You can have a 1 MeV alpha, beta, or gamma, or a 1 keV alpha, beta, or gamma. Second, energy certainly contributes to how far particles can penetrate, but alphas have a massive charge (2+) which allows them to easily interact with materials they pass through. This means they are easily stopped by the glass protecting the sensor, as the electromagnetic forces occur at longer ranges than nuclear forces. This is pretty cool though and reminds me of that video of the museum (in Germany, I think?) where you can see trails beta (or alphas?) physically zipping inside an "aquarium".
  • rubberbandage 12y ago
    The Exploratorium in San Francisco also has a vapor tank that shows cosmic rays and radioactivity—it’s mesmerizing.
    • oscilloscope 12y ago
      They're pretty easy environments to make at home. The key ingredients are dry ice and alcohol. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_chamber https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_chamber