Automated Analysis of Cloud Chamber Tracks

Automated methods have been developed for counting individual droplets along diffuse cloud chamber tracks. A programmable film reader measures film density in two dimensions. Computer programs analyze this density map to obtain droplet counts. Droplets with diameters of 15 μ and density contrast of 0.5 have been successfully identified, measured, and counted. Real space track dimensions are obtained by making track measurements on both views of a stereo camera pair. Reproducibility of droplet counts is ± 3% and accuracy is ∼8%.