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instrument rack for nuclear physics experiments
instrument rack for nuclear physics experiments

instrument rack for nuclear physics experiments

Datecirca 1980
Inventory Number2003-1-0269
ClassificationInstrument Rack
Subject
    User Andreas Koehler 1930 - 2015
    Manufacturer Edgerton, Germeshausen & Grier 1947-present
    Cultural Region
      Place of Use
        Dimensions183 x 68.6 x 58.4 cm (72 1/16 x 27 x 23 in.)
        Material
          Accessorieslarge copper template (3), large circuit board (3), black metal frame (3), metal connectors, Texas Nuclear booklet, catalog sheets from RIDL, a plastic 12-inch ruler
          DescriptionA tall metallic rack is filled with an assortment of counters. The upper level is filled with Nuclear Instrumentation Modules (NIMs). Here is the list:

          (2) EG&G Stretcher Amplifier, Model AW 105. They both have been engraved "WAPP" (for Wide Angle Pair Production) and have small pieces of tape to mark special adjustments on dials.
          (1) EG&G Coincidence Counter, model C104. "WAPP" is engraved on it.
          (1) EG&G Gate Generator, model GG200. A piece of paper indicates that it was the "Property of / Cyclotron Lab".
          (2) EG&G HV Pulser, model HV100. A white sticker mentions "New Krypton / Aug 17 [strikethrough] 21 1968"

          The middle level of the rack is made of two modules, which appear to be from a generation before the upper ones. The larger one is an analyzer made by RIDL, model 34-12. One piece of tape, near a dial, says "1K Max / Jan 80".

          The lower level of the rack is made of a series of RIDL modules.
          (1) RIDL model 30-19. A tag mentions: "U.S. Government Property / USN 1866-S-282" Another tag says "Princeton-Penn / AP-004054 / Accelerator.

          (2) RIDL model 33-10B. A sticker mentions "Harvard University / Dept. of Physics / NSF Equipment.

          (1) RIDL model 30-19

          (1) RIDL model 54-6

          The tags attached to the various modules gives a good sense of how these sorts of instruments were used over rather long periods of time and how they were cannibalized from one kind of physics experiment to the other.
          Signedmultiple signatures, see description
          Inscribedyellow stickers (3): Harvard University / Physics Dept. yellow sticker: Harvard University Physics Dept. / M. I. Sc. yellow sticker: Proton Biomedical Group / Harvard University Physics Dept yellow sticker: Harvard University / Dept. of Physics / NSF Equipment yellow sticker: Harvard University Physics Dept. / Cyclotron Lab tag attached to a string: Please Note – / Yellow color-coded BNC connectors indicate outputs / which must be terminated in 50 [ohms] for proper operation / of the instrument / Green color-coded BNC connectors indicate protected / data inputs for analog signals.
          FunctionExperiments with cloud chambers relied heavily on photographic images, whereas those with cyclotrons employed logic circuits.

          When a high energy beam of particles collided with a target, it triggered thousands of events and scattered particles and photons. These were picked up by detectors, which in turn sent electrical signals (or pulses) to a wide assortment of logical devices for analysis. Logic instruments included count-registers (or scalers), which counted up the events; pulse height analyzers (PHA), which selected and sorted pulses that fit within certain sized windows; and coincidence counters, which recorded simultaneous events.
          ProvenanceHarvard Cyclotron Laboratory
          Historical AttributesThis rack was assembled and used by Andreas Koehler in his osteoporosis experiments using a live cat as a proton beam target (unharmed by the tests) to explore non-invasive means of checking for bone calcium levels. Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory, c. 1980-1984.
          Andreas Koehler
          Date: circa 1980
          Accessories: large copper template (3), large circuit board (3), black metal frame (3), metal connectors, Texas Nuclear booklet, catalog sheets from RIDL, a plastic 12-inch ruler
          Object number: 2003-1-0269b
          Andreas Koehler
          Date: circa 1980
          Accessories: large copper template (3), large circuit board (3), black metal frame (3), metal connectors, Texas Nuclear booklet, catalog sheets from RIDL, a plastic 12-inch ruler
          Object number: 2003-1-0269c
          Andreas Koehler
          Date: circa 1980
          Accessories: large copper template (3), large circuit board (3), black metal frame (3), metal connectors, Texas Nuclear booklet, catalog sheets from RIDL, a plastic 12-inch ruler
          Object number: 2003-1-0269d
          relay rack equipment
          Grason-Stadler Company
          Date: 1960-1970
          Accessories: extra screws and washers
          Object number: 1999-1-0057
          Edwin Land's charts and papers
          Edwin H. Land
          Date: circa 1988
          Object number: 2004-1-0278
          six-decade counter / scaler unit
          Radiation Instrument Development Laboratory
          Date: 1960-1965
          Object number: 2003-1-0301
          cesium beam atomic clock, electronic unit
          National Company, Inc.
          Date: circa 1960
          Object number: RS1502a
          ammeter with strip chart recorder
          Harvard Cyclotron Laboratory
          Date: 1948
          Object number: 2003-1-0305
          Nachet pocket box compound microscope
          Nachet et Fils (I)
          Date: 1862-1872
          Accessories: 3 Objectives; 2 oculars; substage mirror with mounting screw lost; 1 prepared slide
          Object number: 1030
          box of nine parts for cesium beam atomic clock
          National Company, Inc.
          Date: circa 1960
          Object number: RS1502d
          timing single-channel analyzer with NIM standard
          Ortec
          Date: 1980-2000
          Object number: 2003-1-0298
          box of nine parts for cesium beam atomic clock
          National Company, Inc.
          Date: circa 1960
          Object number: RS1502d.1