Scotch tape's surprising power: X-rays

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m?

As a mechanism for generating electricity, it isn't all that efficient.

Wilmshurst and van de Graaff electrostatic generators would seem to be closer to the state of that particular art

and apparently van de Graaff generators were used to power X-ray sources before modern electronics offered more efficient high voltage generators.

-- Bill Sloman, Nijmegen

On a sunny day (Thu, 23 Oct 2008 07:59:50 -0700 (PDT)) it happened snipped-for-privacy@ieee.org wrote in :

But it makes nice one shot X-ray pics?

Good idea.

Did not know that, mayeb it can be made into some small device.

Strange phenomenon. I have noted a faint blue glow emitted when you peel open the flap on some self adhesive envelopes.

Searching I find

If sparks are generated generation of x-rays is not so surprising.

Just put a piece of polyester carpet in the room and make the tech wear leather shoes - he shuffles across the carpet, and Zap! Instant X-rays! ;-)

Cheers! Rich

On a sunny day (Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:07:18 GMT) it happened Rich Grise wrote in :

That will work, but it needs to be done in a vacuum, the tech will need a space suit.

I don't know if all tapes are charged like Mylar tape. If you put the tape between two electrodes, you can make an eletrostatic speaker. If you remove the sticky, it losses its charge and will not work. I thought I could make it more efficient removing the weight of the sticky, but as I found out it didn't work.

greg

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m?

Anyone who ever did darkroom work knows about the static discharge from tape. Xrays are new to me, but not all that surprising.

How about an electrode poking through the wall of a little bell jar, like a spark plug? ;-)

Cheers! Rich

On a sunny day (Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:57:52 GMT) it happened Rich Grise wrote in :

And the one you would like to take an X-ray of, *in* the bell jar? ;-)

I'd think that would be optional, albeit it wouldn't be all that hard to do. Don't X-rays penetrate glass and air rather well? ;-)

Cheers! Rich

On a sunny day (Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:38:38 GMT) it happened Rich Grise wrote in :

Yep, x-rays penetrate glass and air. So your spark jar will work.

eed

ike

Well, yes and no. Hard X-rays (like generated by a Mo tube) penetrate teeth, and softer ones (like generated by a copper-anode tube) go a distance in air, but spark+carbohydrate polymers will give a fair flux of very soft X-rays, in the part of the spectrum known as 'vacuum ultraviolet'.

An iron-electrode spark plug will emit at 1.9 Angstroms, copper at

There are some drawbacks, for instance this would produce a line source instead of a point source. Since the tape adhesive will dry out in the vacuum rather quickly you need a vacuum pump to re-evacuate your source. Then you also have to lubricate the mechanism for vacuum service. But no tech in a vacuum suit will be needed. Plus there is a host of existing systems for truck mounted and smaller X-ray systems.

What is actually required is a semi conducting or conductive coating. See tin oxide coatings for this purpose. See also metalized Mylar.