X-rays from peeling tape
This project is an exploration of X-ray production from pulling scotch tape. You may not believe this, but hear me out. If you peel tape off a reel in vacuum at a few cm per second rate, megahertz of 10-40 keV X-rays are produced, which are approximately dental X-ray quality! X-ray imaging is easy! Could this replace the expensive equipment used in medical radiographs? Possibly... but first we have to understand how it all works!
For inspiration see http://www.nature.com/nature/videoarchive/x-rays/ and "Correlation between nanosecond X-ray flashes and stick–slip friction in peeling tape," Carlos G. Camara1,2, Juan V. Escobar1,2, Jonathan R. Hird1 & Seth J. Putterman, Nature 455, 1089-1092 (23 October 2008) | doi:10.1038/nature07378; Received 30 December 2007; Accepted 27 August 2008
This project requires vacuum and attention to X-ray radiation hazards.
Add your name here to participate:
- Duncan Carlsmith
- Sam Carman