Terasawa-type small X-Ray Gas Tubes and its Application to Neutralizer for Static Electricity

Abstract

A charged-up insulator produces strong X-rays with a very narrow vacuum window between 0.03 and 0.04 Torr. Using this phenomenon, two types of compact X-ray emission tubes are made. Strong soft X-rays are observed when evacuating down to 0.04 Torr and applying a high voltage (0.5-5 kV) to these devices. The X-ray intensity is higher as the applied voltage is increased. A light-emitting phenomenon is observed when these devices emit X-rays. The present X-ray emitters have a potential to be used as a neutralizer of electric charge