Re: X rays, high altitude, and floppy disks

["Robert Gunter" <rjgunter@icnpharm.com>]

Greetings all,

I recall hearing about using stacked CDs (compact disks) to make a passive high
energy particle detector for cosmic ray measurements.  Anyone out there in
Radsafe land working on such a concept who could comment??

Rob



Mr. Steinmeyer:

Like others who have responded, the presence of Al foil does not appear to me
to be very effective in stopping x-rays (except at the lower energies, where
there might be some effect). But as to upper altitude radiation, there is no
reason to expect any mitigation from any reasonable type of shielding.  Th
30,000  ft radiation field is (VERY roughly) 0.5 mrem/hr at 45degrees N
magnetic latitude of which about 40-45% is caused by neutrons. THese, in
particular would quite possibly cause misalignment of magnetic domains by
collision, and would (unlike most ionizing radiations) be able to bcause some
disruption. So also would  accompaying quasi-equillibrium spectra of fast
protons, and possibly pions. But these are certainly not eliminated by a little
Al foil. Look to electromagnetic fields as the cause, possibly in the
package-handling equipment.
H.B. Knowles, PhD, Physics Consulting
4030 Hillcrest Rd, El Sobrante, CA 94803
Phone (510)758-5449
Fax (510) 758-5508
hbknowls@ix.netcom.com (until 1/31/00)
hbknowles@hbknowles.com (new)
<www.hbknowles.com>
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