Aitken nuclei counter

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Aitken nuclei counter A device invented by John Aitken that is used to estimate the concentration of particles with radii of more than 0.001 μm in a sample of air. Air is made to expand in a chamber. This causes it to cool and water vapour in it condenses on to particles, forming a mist whose opacity allows estimation of the number of particles present. See also Aitken nucleus.

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