Positron discovery in cloud chamber, how so?

  • #1
DaTario
1,091
45
Hi All,

I was watching a video from Veritassium () when it was said that positron discovery was made in a cloud chamber. If the anti-particle of the electron is passing through a dense cloud of atoms and molecules, won't it be natural for this anti-particle to meet an electron and go through a fast pair anihilation, giving rise to photons?

Best wishes

DaTario
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #4
IIRC, our school's cloud-chamber had an optional magnetic field via a pair of coils. Trails from the 'source' spiralled one way for electrons, other way for their anti-kin. And, if you were quick, measurement of curl's diameter allowed a useful estimate of energy etc...

Our school had a 'Treasure Trove' of Nuffield teaching equipment, akin to 1st-year Uni Physics level...
 
Back
Top