Physicist studying alpha radiation in a cloud chamber. The flower-like pattern in the centre of the chamber is formed of the tracks of alpha particles
Physicist studying alpha radiation in a cloud chamber. The flower-like pattern in the centre of the chamber is formed of the tracks of alpha particles emitted by a polonium source at the centre. A cloud chamber allows the tracks to be seen as the ionising particles cause the condensation of a supersaturated vapour as they pass through it. This study was being done during research into the effects of radiation on the components of a proposed nuclear-powered aircraft. The work was carried out by the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA). This photograph was taken on 12th September 1957. NACA was absorbed by the newly-created NASA in 1958, and the nuclear-powered aircraft research was cancelled in the 1960s.
Size: 3331px × 2665px
Photo credit: © NASA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 12/09/1957, 12th, 1900s, 1957, 20th, adult, advisory, aeronautics, aircraft, alpha, american, black--white, caucasian, century, chamber, cloud, committee, detector, detectors, emitter, flight, historical, history, human, ionising, ionizing, lab, laboratory, male, man, monochrome, naca, nasa, national, nuclear-powered, particle, particles, people, person, physical, physicist, physics, polonium, propulsion, radiation, radioactive, research, researching, september, studying, white
