Re: X-Ray Vision Is Here

[Lester.Slaback@nist.gov]

I find this somewhat amazing (incredible?).
3 microrem at 40 keV (a guess) represents about 3 E+4 photons per sq.cm.
Assuming the body is 20 cm thick this given an attenuation of E-3,
resulting in 30 photons/sq.cm to image with (assuming the weapon removes
the rest). At 100 keV one would have 1000 photons/cm2, but with less
differential contrast and a poorer detection efficiency.
And this has to be put on top of a background of some sort in an active
detector. And a real xray spectrum would add dose without adding image
photons.

Is the imaging technology that good?
I know the light-stimulated luminescent phosphor film (Fuiji plates, etc)
are, but that is a rather large system.

It will be interesting to see just how exaggerated the dose claims are. -- 
the above are the personal musing of the author,
and do not represent any past, current, or future
position of NIST, the U.S. Government, or anyone else
who might think that they are in a position of authority.
NBSR Health Physics
NIST
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
301 975-5810
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Lester.Slaback@nist.gov
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