Experiment 05 (6/4/02)- Radiation emission detection

© Engineer Xavier Borg - Blaze Labs Research

Following my arguments for X-ray generation, I have done my first experiment to prove or otherwise disprove the theory that EHD thrusters/lifters are creating a background radiation imbalance around them, by generating very short wavelength highly energised radiation. Although the power of such radiation is by far too small to cause the experienced lift on these devices, harmful X-ray radiation in air cannot be ruled out. The experiment was done with my old faithful Dielectric coated flat panel thurster, having the positive terminal connected to the foil and a self developing X-ray photo sheet, the same as commonly used by your dentist.

This photo shows the developed X-ray photo on the left and the plastic pocket which was hanging within the thruster during the test. During exposure, the photographic paper is held in this pocket. Two stainless steel washers of 2mm thickness were glued onto this pocket, one on each side, so that a resulting image would be transfered on the photo, in case of X-ray band radiation. As you see on the left developed image, the photographic paper has been indeed exposed to some kind of ionisation. This result may be an indication that the lifter does indeed radiate in the X-ray band, and at high enough operating voltage, it should radiate even in the Gamma band - tested by JLN Gamma radiation test. The Gamma radiation tests show that Gamma radiation from a lifter compares to background radiation and is not hazardous.

A close up of the developed photo reveals the radiation emissions in the X-ray band. The exposure time was 8 minutes, with the photo in close proximity to the aluminium foil of the thruster, powered at about 50 Watts / 60 kV. As can be seen, the rays have penetrated through the 2 mm stainless steel washers in many parts. However, it is also noticed that areas that should have been easily exposed on the same photo, have not been exposed, and this could mean that the result shown on this photo cannot be conclusive, as other effects (not X-ray) could have resulted in the chemical reaction upon the photographic paper. For this purpose, more sophisticated measuring devices have to be employed for conclusive results.

Negative radiation tests- by Willy Guns

For this experiment, a Scintillation meter Type 540, an NaI-detector, a Series 900 mini-monitor with Geiger Muller counter and an ESM FH 40 G-L (0.1 microSv/h - 25 mSv/h (35 keV - 1.3 MeV) were used. Tests were performed with a Silicium-Lithium detector diameter 3 inch with Berillium window (without lead screen protection), with a preamplifier and Canberra S40 and S50 Multichannel-analysers. This resulted in a background radiation reading ten times normal. The thruster was setup at 45 mm in front of the detector window. Below are photos of experimental setup at the VUB (Free University Of Brussels).

The following curve shows the test results obtained for Pb lead (dark blue), Al aluminium lifter-element (purple) and the background radiation (light blue) levels for the range from 5 keV to 300 keV.

Result, no or negligible radiation when the EHD thruster is operated at 30 kV in air. Further experiments with my Geiger-Muller counter based on military spec GM tube 8767, and with an NaI detector, also gave no positive results.

Conclusions

This experiment definetely shows that

1. Radiating frequencies of very short wavelengths, although theoretically present under vacuum conditions, ARE NOT DETECTED when the thruster is operated in air.
2. No harmful radiation is emitted from EHD thrusters when operated in air.
3. If there is radiation, then it is in the far UV or UV.
4. Health hazard only occurs when ionised gases are inhaled.
5. The frequency of the radiation pressure (in vacuum) is not the same as the frequency of the power supply driving the thruster, and is still present with a pure dc hv supply. The voltage potential across its electrodes and its frequency however may effect the efficiency at which the air ions are accelerated. Radiation frequency depends only on the voltage across the electrodes.
6. So if an electric charge, in the form of air ion, is being accelerated from one electrode to the other, an electric current will be created, the one we normally call 'leakage current'. No leakage current, no ion flow and no EHD thrust. In vacuum, this charge is carried by electrons (not ions), which are much lighter and faster than ions and on impact produce radiation in exactly the same way as a vacuum X-ray tube. This would also confirm that any EHD thruster will consume current, even in pure vacuum, and to increase radiation imbalance, and higher radiation thrust they will therefore consume more current. It should be clear however, that the radiation pressure generated in vacuum is far less than the thrust we normally get in air by the ion flow mechanism. It can also be deduced that highly insulated EHD thrusters do not work. In other words, a current flow is necessary in both air and vacuum applications.

Note for radiation meter users

Radiation Levels:

• microrems/hr (µrems/hr) = counts per minute * 1000 / (CPM/mRhr)
• Low radiation is below 10 µrems/hr.
• Normal background radiation is in the range of 10 to 79 µrems/hr.
• High background radiation is in the range of 80 to 129 µrems/hr.
• Unhealthy background radiation is in the range of 130 to 149 µrems/hr.
• Safe only in short term exposure levels are 150 µrems/hr to 249 µrems/hr.
• Dangerous radiation levels are above 250 µrems/hr or 2.5 µSv/hr.

Averaged CPM = Total counts / Total minutes running * 1000 / (CPM/mRhr)

The value CPM/mRhr is given in the radiation sensor datasheet. The sievert (Sv) is the correct unit to use when you wish to monitor the biological danger of radiation. Prior to the sievert, the unit used to monitor the biological effectiveness of radiation was called the rem. The difference between the rem and the sievert is a proportionality factor: 100 rems equal one sievert.