The goal of this experiment is to record a spectrum of alpha particles energies (E) at different air pressures, plot the energies against air mass per unit area (u) and graphically determine dE/du. |
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In this experiment, a vacuum chamber is employed to isolate a Thorium 230 sample. An alpha particle detector is then used to detect emission from the Thorium 230 sample at various vacuum chamber pressures. From this data, alpha particle energy can then be correlated to air mass per unit area (calculated from air pressure). Alpha particle energies of unknown sources are then measured at low vacuum chamber pressures, in an attempt to identify the samples by comparing measured alpha particle energies to known values. |
Data obtained from a Thorium 228 sample. Peaks correspond to 5.34, 6.05, 6.29 and 6.78 MeV alpha particles. Compiled by Jim Wren, Lorelei Newby and Toby Click, Spring 1995. |
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| H alpha Isotope Shift | Sodium D Line Splitting | ||
| Scanning Tunneling Microscope | IRThermography | ||
| Hall Effect | Franck-Hertz | ||
| Alpha Particles | Nuclear Magnetic Resonance |
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