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"The Most Original Apparatus in the Whole History of Physics" Wilson, Charles Thomson Rees (1869-1959). (1) On a method of making visible the paths of ionising particles through a gas. In: Proc. Roy. Soc., series A, 85 (1911): 285-88. Plate. (2) On an expansion apparatus for making visible the tracks of ionising particles in gases and some results obtained by its use. In: ibid. 87 (1912): 277-292. 4 plates on 2 leaves. Together two whole numbers, 8vo. London: Harrison & Sons, 1911-12. 255 x 179 mm. Orig. printed wrappers, very slightly worn, pencil notations on back wrappers. Fine copies, very difficult to find in this condition. First Editions. Wilson received a share of the 1927 Nobel Prize for physics for his invention of the cloud chamber, which makes visible the tracks of ionizing particles. Wilson's device, which Rutherford called "the most original apparatus in the whole history of physics" (quoted in Magill, p. 344) became standard equipment in physics laboratories, and made possible numerous important discoveries in the fields of particle and nuclear physics. "The phenomena discovered empirically by Wilson may, briefly, be explained as follows. When air saturated with water vapor is suddenly cooled by an adiabatic expansion, it becomes supersaturated. In this condition, condensation into droplets will occur, provided there are nuclei present. Dust particles allow drops to form immediately, so Wilson carefully eliminated all gross matter from his apparatus. Negative ions act as nuclei at an expansion ratio of 1.25 (fourfold supersaturation) and positive ions become nuclei at 1.31 (sixfold supersaturation)" (DSB). Wilson constructed his first cloud chamber in 1895, and in 1910 designed an improved model with better illumination which allowed results to be photographed. In March 1911 Wilson was able to observe the track of an alpha ray by condensing water drops onto the ions produced by its passage, describing his results in "On a method of making visible the paths of ionising particles through a gas" (no. 1 above). No. 2, Wilson's classic "On an expansion apparatus for making visible the tracks of ionising particles in gases and some results obtained by its use," published a little over a year later, contains "some of the best photographs of alpha-particle, beta-particle and X-ray tracks" (Magill, p. 343). Weber, Pioneers of Science, pp. 85-87. Magill, The Nobel Prize Winners: Physics, pp. 339-47. . Seller Inventory # 37540
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