Talk:X-ray

Mathematical inconsistency

The introductory paragraph says that X-rays have a frequency range of 30 PHz to 30 EHz, so that the limit frequencies are a factor of 1000 apart. Since photon energy is directly proportional to frequency, X-rays should therefore cover a range of energies with a 1000-fold difference between the highest energy and the lowest energy.

However, the energy range given for X-rays in the same paragraph is 145 eV (electron volts) to 124 KeV; the extremes differ not by a factor of 1000, but of approximately 855.

WolframAlpha says that 30 PHz corresponds to a photon energy of 124 eV, not 145 eV. Should I therefore change the lower energy limit of "145 eV" to "124 eV"?

Boatman4 (talk) 19:27, 30 January 2023 (UTC)

"Energy Ranges": X-Rays Vs. Gamma Rays

I wonder if it would make sense to consider X-Rays to be a low-energy form of gamma rays.

Just as the color red is a low-energy (long wavelength) form of visible light, might not X-Rays be a low-energy "color" of gamma rays?

I would be very interested in any thoughts upon this matter... The Grand Rascal (talk) 07:10, 1 May 2024 (UTC)

There is absolutely no physical reason to have different names for x-rays and gamma rays - and also IR, UV, etc. All these are either historical terms or are specific to human physiology. In any case, Wikipedia isn't the entity to introduce new terms... Evgeny (talk) 09:04, 1 May 2024 (UTC)

Cool thanks for sharing this info to me 😁 222.153.163.70 (talk) 08:36, 16 May 2024 (UTC)

The appropriate Wikipedia policy WP:COMMONNAME: "...the name most typically used in reliable sources is generally preferred." --Chetvorno^TALK 16:07, 16 May 2024 (UTC)

X-ray emission from diodes?

Hi, vaguely recall a discusson about using a vacuum encapsulated silicon diode driven far beyond avalanche breakdown generating a stream of electrons that were later used as "the E-beam source for a CRT" but have heard no more about it. With the advent of vacuum ultraviolet (160nm) LEDs it might be worth investigating if such a device can be leveraged to create a new X-ray source with some modifications. In this case the drift velocity seems to be a critical factor so such a source would also be monochromatic which is desirable for physics and engineering applications. A possible device would use a helium (low mean free path) fill with such a diode, accelerating electrons from the VUV chip recombination region using a micro-piezoelectric transformer and pulse forming network onto a low work function (likely Sr , Mg or Ba) electrode for the actual X-ray emission to occur. This might actually work with some early UV-C LEDs notably the TO-5 variety as they have an open structure. It would potentially only need 4KV internally which would be unprecedented. 91.190.161.160 (talk) 04:55, 8 June 2024 (UTC)

Featured picture scheduled for POTD

Hello! This is to let editors know that File:First medical X-ray by Wilhelm Röntgen of his wife Anna Bertha Ludwig's hand - 18951222.jpg, a featured picture used in this article, has been selected as the English Wikipedia's picture of the day (POTD) for October 21, 2024. A preview of the POTD is displayed below and can be edited at Template:POTD/2024-10-21. For the greater benefit of readers, any potential improvements or maintenance that could benefit the quality of this article should be done before its scheduled appearance on the Main Page. If you have any concerns, please place a message at Wikipedia talk:Picture of the day. Thank you!  — Amakuru (talk) 12:20, 8 October 2024 (UTC)

X-rays are a form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation, with wavelengths shorter than those of ultraviolet rays and longer than those of gamma rays – roughly in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometres. X-rays were discovered by German scientist Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895, who named them X-radiation to signify an unknown type of radiation. X-rays can penetrate many solid substances such as construction materials and living tissue, and X-ray radiography is widely used in medical diagnostics. This medical significance was noticed by Röntgen shortly after he discovered X-rays; this print, titled Hand mit Ringen (Hand with Rings), is a print of his first medical X-ray, taken of his wife Anna Bertha Ludwig's hand in December 1895.

Print credit: Wilhelm Röntgen; restored by Yann Forget

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