A condensation nuclei counter with photographic recording
Senior Professor Dr. L. W. Pollak;
A condensation nuclei counter based onAitken's principle is described and depicted. It permits simultaneous observations of the graticule by two persons or the observation of the graticule by one person and the synchroeous photographic recording of the droplets on 35 mm film strip or single plates. With one exposure, the droplets on 24 squares of the millimetre graticule can be recorded so that a repetition of the necessary operations required by other counters in order to obtain an average count becomes superfluous and the time taken for one experiment is reduced to three quarters of a minute. The limitation to China magnets five droplets per square mm recommended for all hitherto existing nuclei counters with eye observations is removed when the droplets and the graticule are photographed. By the use of a special sealing arrangement and by employment of vacuum taps which proved most satisfactory with the previous construction of a photo-electric nuclei counter, leakages are practically impossible. The glass windows of the receiver are interchangeable with plates of conducting glass which can be heated by the passage of an electric current. The construction ensures that the 1 cm distance above the graticule is always maintained, independent of the tightening of the sealing arrangement. The receiver is equipped with a stirrer operated from outside by a permanent magnet. Two easily detached pumps are provided; one for purifying the air in the receiver and for the dilatation, the other for sucking the sample of impure air into the receiver. The adiabatic cooling in the receiver can be produced e. g. by means of an expansion pump. The method of measuring is discussed. Examples of records are reproduced. Applications and the development of a fully automatic recording nuclei counter are indicated.
