Re: x-ray with small Tesla coil as driver

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

Original poster: "Jack Vandam" <snotoir7674g-at-mindspring-dot-com> 

I remember running across the green fluorescence phenomenon when I was a kid
and had one of those old violet ray generators.  In those days, I'd simply
touch the antique bulb I had at the time to the end of the violet ray
terminal and green would light up the inside.  When I became older and
discovered that this might have indicated x-rays, I decided to repeat the
experiment some years ago and check from a distance with a survery meter.
Sure enough, x-rays.  Those original Edison bulbs were all lost and I was
lucky enough to come across one at an antique shop the other day and they
only wanted $5.  The high voltage runs directly from the small, ball
terminal to a piece of foil I have taped on the end of the bulb.  The bulb
filament goes to ground.  That's it.  When I had my larger Tesla coil a few
years back (4" sparks) and drove a similar antique bulb, I could see
fluorescence of an x-ray screen and through thin objects placed in front of
it.  Of course, I couldn't see anything this time with the Science First
coil only producing 1-1.5" sparks, but film did pick up the results.

I think it's interesting that even something of the most basic configuration
like this could do what it does.

Jack


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 2:18 PM
Subject: Re: x-ray with small Tesla coil as driver


 > Original poster: "mercurus2000" <mercurus2000-at-cox-dot-net>
 >
 > Wow, I've produced x-rays using vacuum tube diodes and just recently a
power
 > beam triode using a 50 KV dc generator, it's very low power, output
probably
 > less than 5 watts, you said you got the x-rays from just hooking the
 > terminal to a tesla coil? Normally there needs to be a plate were the
 > electrons are stopped, either inside or on the outside to produce x-rays,
if
 > I remember correctly, how much did the light bulb cost you? I wanted to
hook
 > one up to my small tesla coils I own, but I'm suprised a standard light
bulb
 > with no modifications produced x-rays.
 >
 > ----- Original Message -----
 > From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 9:22 PM
 > Subject: x-ray with small Tesla coil as driver
 >
 >
 >  > Original poster: "Jack Vandam" <snotoir7674g-at-mindspring-dot-com>
 >  >
 >  > I've had a small Science First 50 Kv Tesla coil for quite some time.
This
 >  > unit is absolutely tiny compared to what I've seen people talk about
here.
 >  > Today, at an antique shop, I saw an old antique Edison light bulb.  I
 >  > brought it home and placed it on top of the energized Tesla coil.  To
my
 >  > surprise, the inside of the bulb glowed a brilliant green and I decided
to
 >  > try and see if I could take an x-ray of something fairly easy.  The
 > results
 >  > are here:
 >  >
 >  > http://www.mindspring-dot-com/~xray5245f/pencilxrayenhanced.jpg
 >  >
 >  > I must say I was sure surprised to get anything at all.
 >  >
 >  > Jack
 >  >
 >  >
 >
 >