Developments in digital imaging boosted research in many branches of
science. Taking advantage of this progress, we introduced digital photography
into experimental nuclear physics. We have developed a new type of ionization
chamber with optical readout dedicated to studies of exotic and rare nuclear
decays. It was successfully used to investigate new radioactive decays of nuclei
very far from stability.
In my talk, I will briefly introduce our Optical Time Projection Chamber (OTPC)
and illustrate its operation with selection of images obtained over the last years.
These will include two-proton radioactivity of 45Fe, 48Ni, and 54Zn, as well as
rare channels of charged-particle emissions following beta decay.