Unique concept model for a hypervelocity particle injector developed by Otto Berg, measuring approximately 20″ x 16.75″ x 6.5″, comprising a tall glass chamber with internal stainless steel cones set upon an acrylic base, mounted on a blue-painted piece of wood. A slip annotated in Berg's hand is affixed to the base: "I hold the U.S. Patent on this Particle Injector. This unit is the concept model (prototype) for final use." In very good to fine condition.
The hypervelocity particle injector was designed to inject positively charged dust particles—conducting metallic spheres of about one-trillionth of an inch in diameter, effectively man-made cosmic dust—into a 2-million volt Van de Graaf accelerator. In April 1970, Berg was granted U.S. Patent No. 3,509,419 for his 'Dust Particle Injector for Hypervelocity Accelerators,' a 'method and apparatus for use in forming a highly collimated beam of microparticles having a high charge-to-mass ratio and injecting such beam into an electrostatic accelerating tube. The apparatus includes an insulated housing having a particle exit opening; a pair of conically shaped electrodes which are arranged within the housing with their apex portions disposed in a space apart facing relationship in alignment with the housing exit opening, the electrode adjacent to the housing exit opening having a particle exit passageway extending through the apex portion thereof.' Berg was the Principal Investigator (P.I.) who conceived and designed this hypervelocity particle injector experiment.
From the collection of Dr. Otto Berg.
