Looking at electrons

Abstract

We describe experiments we have performed in which we are able to image the motion of individual electrons moving in liquid helium 4. Electrons in helium form bubbles of radius~19 Å. We use the negative pressure produced by a sound wave to expand these bubbles to a radius of about 10 m. The bubbles are then illuminated with light from a flash lamp and their position recorded. We report on several interesting phenomena that have been observed in these experiments. It appears that the majority of the electrons that we detect result from cosmic rays passing through the experimental cell. We discuss this mechanism for electron production.