Re: statistical fluctuations

[Ludwik Kowalski <kowalskil@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>]

This is a good idea (see Brian's message
below). Count on me to share the expense.

What we can purchase for $100 will be enough
 for as many as 50 projects. Especially if we
order large pieces and cut them into small
pieces with scissors. The pieces I used last
year were 5 mm by 5 mm. One can easily
label them with a needle.

Please send Brian your name, if you are also
interested. Then, depending on how many we
are, he will tell us how much to send him and
at what address. Would he be able to visualize
"craters" made by 12 eV ions? I do not think so.
Ludwik Kowalski


On Friday, Sep 5, 2003, at 05:17 US/Pacific, Brian Whatcott wrote:

> At 07:48 AM 9/5/2003 -0700, you wrote:
> > The CR-39 detectors of alpha particles are also
> > suitable for noncontroversial student projects, for
> > example, a study of distribution of radon///
> > The detector, called CR-39; is a sheet of transparent
> > plastic. Alpha particles, for example, from radon, create
> > latent tracks which can be made visible (through a
> > microscope) by developing pieces of CR-39  in hot
> > KOH. These detectors are commercially available
> > from several suppliers. One place to obtain them is:
> >
> > Track Analysis Systems Ltd
>
> > For example: pieces 25x25 mm, with an
> > engraved (incrementing) number, cost 1.75 US
> > dollars each.  For the US, we have a minimum
> > order quantity of 100 US dollars.
>
>
> Pity about that minimum order value - $100 is just over
> my tolerance for hobby projects - but I would be glad to
> split with a few other prospective customers.
>
> My interest would be to check the sensitivity of this
>   material to ion impact somewhat analogous to alpha
>   particles:   could the material really detect ions at
>   around 12 eV  of the kind found in an electrolytic cell,
>   as well as the 5.5MeV emissions of Americium?