Gary said......Seriously, I hear there is plenty of space in this forum for projects such as those to be shown off and I am sure every one here is as interested as I to see them.
……………..
OK folks , here we go......…
Back in the 1960's, and before, Spark Chambers were used to detect particles from outer space.
Many Science Museums had them working as they created visual interest, seeing the particle tracks
showing up as a series of sparks.
So, I have started to build a small circular one, whilst still working on the Trainorama and
a QCWSSTC (Qaisi Continuous Wave Solid State Tesla Coil.)
Whether at 86, I shall ever finish any of them is debatable!
My design of Spark Chamber is 200mm dia x 200mm long acrylic cylinder with acrylic end plates.
Power supply slung under base acrylic, from 15kV NST I stripped from my old SGTC.
Photo shows an initial assembly to see if everything fits.
10 ali plates spaced 20mm apart on nylon spacers and bolts with HV on alternate plates.
(plates not shown on photo )
Argon filled with telltale neoprene disc to show pressure increase as sparking will heat up gas. HV to be cut manually to start with. Maybe auto later.
Model railway valves for Argon inlet/air outlet.
Non pulsed HV to start with, as the first spark chambers had this so
this is old fashion stuff. (Pulsing the HV to micro secs is expensive and complicated )
Gas valves are on top with white hose to connect to Argon cylinder and regulator.
Orange lines are 15kV DC supply to ali plates.
Other photo shows rectification and smoothing of 15kV HV with bleeder resistors wound on acrylic tube
to ensure I don't get a belt from the capacitors when off.