US2600

US2600 refers to United States Patent 2,600,000. This patent was granted on June 10, 1952, to James A. Van Allen. The patent is titled "Apparatus for detecting corpuscular radiation." This invention relates to an improved apparatus for detecting and measuring energetic particles, such as those found in cosmic rays. The apparatus described in the patent utilizes ionization chambers and electronic circuits to record the passage of these particles.

The significance of US2600 lies in its contribution to the early development of space science and radiation detection. James Van Allen was a pioneering physicist instrumental in the exploration of the Earth's magnetosphere and the early space program. His work led to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts, regions of energetic charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field. This patent represents a foundational step in the technologies that enabled such discoveries. The device detailed in US2600 was a precursor to the instruments later flown on rockets and satellites. The principles outlined in the patent helped pave the way for more sophisticated radiation detectors used in various scientific and technological applications, including space exploration, nuclear physics, and medical imaging. The patent itself is a historical document illustrating the inventive spirit and scientific progress of the mid-20th century.