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Re: X-rays from light bulbs/Tesla Coils !!!
I would hazard a guess that it would be difficult, at best, to get any
significant dose rates off of a "light bulb" excited by a TC. X-rays are
produced when a electron with high kinetic energy (accelerated) strikes a
target, releasing what is known as BREMSSTRAHLUNG (braking radiation). The
higher the Z number (density) of the target element the greater the x-ray
production, that is why Tungsten is commonly used as a target, it has a
high atomic weight and a high melting point. Possibly if you were to use a
high vacuum bulb and wrap one end with Aluminum foil and connect the TC
output to the filament side you could get some x-ray production, but it
would most likely destroy the bulb, as pin hole leaks will form in the
glass under the Al foil. I have done this with high voltage regulator tubes
from old color TV's, and was able to produce about 1.2 R/hr. I believe
common light bulbs are not high vacuum??
I would use caution with any "high vacuum" type bulb, but I do not think
the common ones now days are, but I could be wrong. Who knows the gas
pressures and types of the more common bulbs?
Regards,
David Trimmell
At 09:33 AM 9/6/1999 , you wrote:
>Original Poster: "Jeff W. Parisse" <jparisse-at-teslacoil-dot-com>
>
>John, Jeff, Group...
>
>Wait a minute! Let's back up. Maybe I missed something.
>
>X-rays from a TC excited light bulb? I use a VTTC to light lightbulbs
>and/or create corona on the filaments all the time as I'm sure
>many of us with VTTCs do.
>
>Are there any x-ray experts willing to comment on the thread below?
>
>Jeff Parisse
>
>> >Just wanted to relate that I have produced x-rays using an antique light
>> >bulb and a small 3-4" spark Tesla coil. The radiation was strong enough
>to
>> >weakly fluoresce an x-ray screen with a target shadow (paper clip used
>for
>> >target object) between the bulb and screen.
>>
>> THANK you for this email. When I started out fiddling around with Violet
>> Rays and different smaller Tesla Coils, knowing nothing anything about
>> Tesla, sparks, or radiation I was lighting up Edison bulbs and noting that
>> the glass phosphoresced a beautiful yellow green colour, and that the
>> filaments and posts inside cast black shadows on the glass. Didn't have a
>> clue what was going on. I must have played quite a long time with this
>> light bulb, and in the weeks time acquired a half dozen or so more bulbs
>to
>> play with, and found similar results.
>
>
>