2025 Particle Tracks in Cloud Chamber II

Cosmic particles constantly reach the Earth. Originating from the Sun, supernovae, and other cosmic sources, these high-energy particles collide with molecules in the atmosphere, producing cascades of secondary particles and gamma rays. Natural radiation is also present in the Earth and the air around us.

To make the tracks of these otherwise invisible particles visible, I built a cloud chamber. Different types of charged particles—such as electrons, positrons, and alpha particles—leave characteristic traces as they pass through it. These tracks are recorded on film and photographed. Through a transfer process, the images are applied to ceramic tiles and permanently fused into the glaze during firing.

This sculpture consists of a wooden display case containing 24 thin ceramic tiles featuring photographs of particle tracks captured in my cloud chamber. The work reveals the hidden beauty of the subatomic world.