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Re: vacuum spark gap ( and Xrays)
Basically if you accelerate electrons in a vacuum at 10kV or more you will
get X-rays, this is why in the UK you are not allowed to use apparatus to do
this in schools unless it is part of a TV or oscilloscope. There is an
exception, it may be done with a specially designed piece of apparatus with
very tight design specs. These are so tight that only one manufacturer has
supplied such a piece of kit for over ten years.
The electrons do not need to strike a particularly dense material as is
commonly thought, glass works quite well!
I actually have a couple of items (they are both shown on my website
http://www.g8cyerichmond.freeserve.co.uk) that were used in schools before
these regulations were introduced. They quite happily produce X-rays at 12
kV.
Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2000 6:57 PM
Subject: Re: vacuum spark gap ( and Xrays)
> Original Poster: "Michael Cox" <95moc-at-kings-school.co.uk>
>
> Hi all,
>
> I dont really know much about this, but I saw a demonstartion last year in
> whi9ch X-rays were produced by puting a high voltage across an evacuated
> tube. This sounds worryingly similar to your vacuum spark gap.
>
> Does any one out there actually know anything about this phenomenon and
> should we be wary of using vacuums with high voltages?
>
> cheers
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> At 16:45 11/05/00 -0600, you wrote:
> >Original Poster: "Jim Lux" <jimlux-at-jpl.nasa.gov>
> >
> >I believe that some have built small coils using the Victoreen Vacuum
Spark
> >gaps used for surge suppression.
> >
> >
> >>
> >>
> >>Very interesting response. And it supports what some people say, and
> >>contradicts what others say, just like the returns on my internet search
> >>(the biggest point of contention is that some people say that a spark
won't
> >>jump in a vacuum and other people, like you, say it will) . My opinion
is
> >>that a sealed vacuum spark gap can be very good in tesla use. When I
build
> >>it and have something to report (brag about), I will post the results
here.
> >>
> >>Regards, Alfred Erpel
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>