[meteorite-list] Question

[Chris Peterson]

The problem with X-rays from TVs wasn't with B&W, but happened when 
color TVs made the scene. An X-ray tube works by bombarding a metal 
target with energetic electrons. Color TV tubes have a metal screen just 
before the phosphor that acts as a mask to make sure the correct gun 
sees only the corresponding colored phosphor dots. It is the electrons 
hitting this metal mask that produces X-rays. These are soft X-rays, 
with energies on the order of 10 keV. Meteors may well produce some 
X-rays, but at meteor temperatures these would also be soft X-rays. Even 
very hard X-rays, up as high as 1 MeV, don't have enough energy to 
liberate neutrons (typically). For that you need several MeV, what would 
be considered gamma rays.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter A Shugar" <pshugar at clearwire.net>
To: "LIST" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2007 7:03 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Question


> Hello List,
> I have a question.
> Years ago when tv's were "young" one of the problems was that the 
> acceleration of electrons from the cathode to the plate " the screen"
> was that when the electron collided with the screen, Xrays were 
> generated.
> Granted that the level was not near as large as what would be 
> generated if
> you got a chest Xray, or a mamogram, It was never made clear what 
> caused the Xrays. I do remember that the ultra high voltage was on the 
> order of 25 to 35KV.and if this was enough to cause Xrays, then the 
> energy needed to creat Xrays is not very large. The ionization trail 
> of the atmosphere as the meteorite plows through it will cause plenty 
> of electrons to help create the Xrays.
> If the Xrays knock particles around that can cause the Nitrogen to 
> convert to  C14 then maybe there may be more Xrays than what we 
> thought there was.
> I would venture to say that this might also bear investigation.
> Pete