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Re(2): tritium x-rays



The Radiation Yield (Y) can be calculated using the following formula.

Y=(6x10^-4(ZT))/(1+6x10^-4(ZT))

Where Z is the atomic #
T is the Kinetic E. of the beta in MeV.

for an average energy of 6keV and a Be encasement, you get the following:

Y=(6x10^-4(4*.006)/(1+6x10^-4(4*.006))
 =1.44x10^-5

Which is the fraction of the 6 keV converted to photons as the Beta particle 
slows down.

for a Ti encasement you get Y= 7.92x10^-5

not much, but if you have a lot of H-3 it will be there.

About the average E of the bremsstrahlung, the maximum would be 18 keV (max E of 
the Beta).  The average E of the Beta is 6 keV, and the bremsstrahlung spectrum 
is approximately flat.  This would make the average E of the photon about 3 keV. 


Now you have to ask what you need to do to see photons at this E, and how much 
self absorption there will be.

The above info came from Jim Turners book Atoms, Radiation, and Radiation 
Protection published by Pergamon (a new expanded edition is hot off the press 
though I'm not sure of the publisher).  The formula was originally obtained from 
H.W. Koch and J.W. Motz, Rev. Mod. Phys. 31, 920 (1959).

Rob Gunter
ORNL