RE: Vacuum Gap / X-ray production

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Michael.Day-at-USPTO.GOV>

Greetings All,

12,000 volts is sufficient for the production of X-rays with a wavelength of
about 1 Angstrom (a wavelength of 1 Angstrom corresponds to an energy of
12,400 eV, and is considered to be a hard X-ray that is capable of deep
penetrations).  Conventionally, the tube is at high vacuum (pressure below
0.1 mm Hg) so that the electrons fall through the entire potential.  In
should be noted, however, that in Roentgen's original experiments he applied
a high potential difference between two electrodes in a partially evacuated
tube (pressure of ?).  Also note that the efficiency of X-ray production (or
rather the characteristic X-ray spectra) is proportional to the atomic
number of the target.  Consequently, a tungsten target (atomic weight
183.85) is far more efficient in producing X-rays than a copper target
(atomic weight 63.54).  In general, I would be somewhat cautious in
experimenting with vacuum gaps, and would avoid their use if possible.  But
then again, I don't even like roller-coaster rides.

-mike day

-----Original Message-----
From: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 1:54 PM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: RE: Vacuum Gap


Original poster: "Ted Rosenberg by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<Ted.Rosenberg-at-radioshack-dot-com>

Based on my limited use of x-rays, you have to have 1. a source of electrons
2. a high vacuum and 3. a target for the electronic to hit and discharge
x-rays.

I don't think that just HV in a vacuum by itself will generate x-rays.
Of course, I'm open to correction. I don't glow. Yet.

Safety First

Ted
G-2, #1029



-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 12:42 PM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Vacuum Gap


Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<PsychoticMinds1-at-aol-dot-com>




      Im not sure but when u run high voltages threw a vacum dont you run 
the risk of generating x-rays?