Electron Showers in a Lead Plate Spark Chamber

Abstract

A spark chamber, containing 40 Pb plates of one‐third radiation length each, has been exposed to electron beams of energy 85 to 750 MeV. The total number of sparks in the showers and their distribution is measured. For electron energies up to 200 MeV the results agree well with Wilson's Monte Carlo calculations. Above 200 MeV poor multiple track efficiency destroys the agreement. It is concluded that such a spark chamber is a good detector for electrons, and with further development could serve as a spectrometer.