Spaltkammern

Spaltkammern (slit chambers) are a class of gas-filled or vacuum chambers used in experimental physics in which one or more narrow apertures, or slits, define the active interaction region. The slits limit the acceptance angle or the cross-sectional area, enabling better spatial resolution and control of the particle or radiation beam.

Historically, Spaltkammern were employed in early ionization measurements, spectroscopy, and particle-detection experiments, before more modern solid-state detectors became dominant. They were typically constructed from glass or metal, and included electrodes to apply electric fields for collecting ions or electrons produced by ionizing radiation entering through the slits.

In operation, radiation or charged particles entering through the slit interact in a defined volume, creating ionization or secondary emissions that are guided by the electric field to a detector, such as a photographic plate or a collector electrode. The geometry of the slit(s) determines the angular acceptance and can be used to calibrate instruments or to study directional distributions.

In modern literature, the term Spaltkammer is largely historical. Contemporary detectors may employ slit-like apertures as part of collimators or multi-slit masks, but are usually described with more precise designations. The concept, however, remains relevant in the broader context of beam shaping and instrumentation.