Is an X-Ray emitting laser pointer possible?

[Alaskan]

Here's a cheap X-ray source tubehead: https://www.ebay.com/itm/GE-700-Dental-X-Ray-Tubehead/232653083471

 

[Seoul_lasers]

Personal Dosimeter and Geiger counter

ah, actually if you are working with X-rays an ion chamber survey meter going to be more accurate and is a better idea. A GM detector will quickly saturate with x-rays use in radiography unless you can afford a high range tube (doubtful).

I guess I don't have to tell you then, but X-rays are exceedingly dangerous without a proper exposure control.

You can easily give yourself a nasty burn that becomes necrotizing after a few days (think brown recluse with a bad attitude). Bone cancer = not too far off.

 

[Alaskan]

Too scary for me, or anyone to use as a toy.

 

[CurtisOliver]

Agreed, certainly no toy.

 

[paul1598419]

ah, actually if you are working with X-rays an ion chamber survey meter going to be more accurate and is a better idea. A GM detector will quickly saturate with x-rays use in radiography unless you can afford a high range tube (doubtful).

I guess I don't have to tell you then, but X-rays are exceedingly dangerous without a proper exposure control.

You can easily give yourself a nasty burn that becomes necrotizing after a few days (think brown recluse with a bad attitude). Bone cancer = not too far off.

Thanks for making my point again. This is a terrible idea for a 16 year old. It is a bad idea for anyone, and unless you've taken the courses necessary to regulate what you are spilling out around you, you have no business doing projects that include exposing yourself to ionizing radiation. :tsk:

 

[BowtieGuy]

In total agreement with everyone here who has tried to explain why playing with x-rays can be dangerously bat-shit crazy, and make you a candadate for a darwin award.

With that being said, I think the following link is a very interesting thread that was started by member Sigurthr, showing his homemade x-ray machine.
This thread is a good read and worth checking out even if your not interested in building the next x-ray death laser! :yh:

 

[paul1598419]

Interesting read, though I was dismayed to see Sig just had to do the thing we are all saying is irresponsible. He X-Rayed his hand.
:banghead:

 

[Alaskan]

I had a doctor X-ray my whole chest more than once,

there was one guy who did that to his own head, here's the film from it;

Remember this one?

 

[paul1598419]

Me too. But, a CT scan or MRI shows much more.

 

[Alaskan]

Yep, had one of those too. I edited more into my last post, as usual.

 

[paul1598419]

I could have sworn that was your head. :crackup:

 

[Blarg King]

If ever I do construct an xray imaging machine, rest assured I wont put anything alive in it. It would be far too easy to give a living thing a harmful and/or lethal dose of radiation.

I actually did some reading about the early days of xrays, and how there were two apposing groups arguing about whether it was harmful or not. I found it interesting how even some of the scientists who were building the first xray machines thought they were harmless, despite receiving burns and losing hair.

This thread actually reminded me of this video: https://youtu.be/XGw3vX9AMyg?t=2m44s

 

[Alaskan]

I could have sworn that was your head. :crackup:

Doh'

Blarg, those guys sure tried hard to get some x-ray power out of that HV

 

[Blarg King]

I've actually wondered if it would be possible to make xrays using one of those ebay stun gun modules and a vacuum tube. Those stun gun modules put out 40-60 Kv which is enough to create xrays (at least in theory). Might have to give it a try someday.

 

[Seoul_lasers]

I've actually wondered if it would be possible to make xrays using one of those ebay stun gun modules and a vacuum tube. Those stun gun modules put out 40-60 Kv which is enough to create xrays (at least in theory). Might have to give it a try someday.

Yes, actually that would work. On average those Stun Guns deliver about anywhere from 11-50/60Kv at peak (higher kV on of those air tasers btw) if you have a lower powered tube you could indeed generate some x-rays, though it probably would be a pulsed (strobing output).

experiments done using a wimshurst machine and Van de Graaff generators can provide enough potential to drive larger tubes.

Röntgen did not suffer from any radiation injury like many other pioneers and investigators of x-rays. This is because Rontgen placed a lead shield between himself and the x-ray tube. Though he did not do this for protection, he was nevertheless, aware of the harmful effects of x-rays. Other workers did not use proper protection and therefore, suffered radiation injuries. Edison et al9, in March 1896. complained about the eye irritation after working with x-rays. Immediately he cautioned the harmful effects of x-rays and recommended frugal use. He abandoned his x- ray work soon after. This came too late for Clarence Daily, an assistant to Edison. Clarence Daily, because of excessive radiation exposure, developed a degen*erative skin disorder which turn into a carcinoma. In 1904, Dally died. This is the first x- ray related death in the United States. Initially, no protective shielding around the x-ray tube was used, not even the lead aprons. In order to image the brain, Dr. Charles Dudley, Dean of the School of Medicine at Vandetbilt University, subjected himself to a 60 minute exposure resulting in the epilation of the head.

Figure 6 shows hands of an early radiologist who fell victim to x-ray injuries after receiving excessive exposure. In ‘the Golden Age of Radiology, one Rontgen of daily total body dose was considered as a "tolerance dose”. Many radiologists died from cancers related to x-ray exposures. Radiologists, before 1940, in the United States experienced a higher cancer mortality rate than that of other physicians. Women who underwent multiple fluoroscopic chest examinations contracted breast cancer more frequently than other women. .... Shoe fitting fluoroscopes were very popular with children and resulted in inhibition of normal foot growth, acute radiation bums and chronic radiation injuiy of shoe store employees10. These experiences remind us that a professional frugality in the use of x-rays with adequate radiation protection measures and good comprehension of their harmful effects is clearly needed.

from The Centenary of Radiology

 

[paul1598419]

I would have thought a taser style stun gun would not provide the necessary current at HV to accelerated electrons toward the anode to produce braking X-Ray photons. Am I wrong about this? Seems like the small current involved with stun guns would pull the HV below accelerating potential.