Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer Usage Conditions May Apply Usage Conditions Apply There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

This artifact is part of a set of infrared detectors that typify those that were used by astronomers from the 1940's into the 1960's. This unit is a commercial Ektron lead sulfide (PbS) detector made by Kodak. The operation of these tubes depends on the change of electrical properties of PbS when exposed to infrared radiation. The change in conductivity caused by impinging photons is a direct measure of the intensity of the infrared radiation when amplified by appropriate electronic circuits. Ektron PbS tubes such as this one were used as detectors for an infrared spectrometer installed in 1961 on the 82 inch McDonald telescope at the University of Arizona. This instrument was used by the astronomers Robert Cashman and Gerard Kuiper for detailed studies of stellar spectra. This tube is one from a set retained for actual use because of its good signal to noise ratio. The set of detectors was donated to NASM in 1994 by Dale P. Cruikshank.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type INSTRUMENTS-Scientific Manufacturer Eastman Kodak Company
 Dimensions Approximate (Cable): 7 × 7.6 × 1.9cm (2 3/4 × 3 × 3/4 in.)
3-D (Loose Plug): 2.1 × 1.7 × 2.2cm (13/16 × 11/16 × 7/8 in.)
Storage: 17.8 × 15.2 × 5.1cm (7 × 6 × 2 in.)
 Materials Stainless Steel
Plastic
Copper Alloy
Glass
Chrome Plating
Solder
Paper
Adhesive
Ink
 Inventory Number A19940242000 Credit Line Gift of Dale P. Cruikshank Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.