-- Main.NigelWatson - 07 Sep 2010 ---+ Detectors Detectors are devices used by elementary particle physicists in the search for a greater understanding of the subatomic particles which make up the universe. As well as detecting charged particles, detectors can be used to detect radiation, making them a useful tool in other aspects of science such as in nuclear physics experiments, nuclear medicine and geological exploration. This section gives a brief insight into the detectors which replaced the spark chamber.<br /> <br /> A wide range of detector devices exist, such as the cloud, bubble and proportional chambers. All of the detectors along the same fundamental principle: the transfer of some or all of the energy of a particle to the detector mass, where it is converted into a a more readily observable form such as visible light.<br /> <br /> The form in which the converted energy appears depends on the detector and its design. Gaseous detectors such as drift and multi wire proportional chambers (MWPC) output a current signal, whilst scintillation counters produces a light pulse. Modern detectors are electrical in nature and output pulses which are analysed by electronic means. <br /> <br /> Before the development of the proportional and drift chambers during the late 1960's, the spark chamber was widely used as a triggerable track detector. The spark chamber itself was a development of the spark counter.
This topic: General
>
OutReach
>
SparkChamber
>
DeteCtors
Topic revision: r1 - 07 Sep 2010 - _47C_61UK_47O_61eScience_47OU_61Birmingham_47L_61ParticlePhysics_47CN_61nigel_32watson
Copyright © by the contributing authors. All material on this collaboration platform is the property of the contributing authors.
Ideas, requests, problems regarding TWiki?
Send feedback