[Laser] What do you guys need??? (Radiation damage)

[W2MXW]

At 10:33 PM 1/10/02 -0800, you wrote:
>It's important to define "radiation."
>There's lots of kinds of "radiation."

In this case I'd say "ionizing particulate" radiation, or beta-rays (which 
are electrons).


>I don't see how they could irradiate packages with an electron beam
>and get any penetration.

Doesn't seem to make sense to me either, when I saw it. I assumed they'd 
use some form of EM radiation like Cobalt-60 gamma or high-energy (MeV 
range) x-rays. But, that's what they said- high-energy electron beams shot 
from an "electron gun" (cathode) would be used and this could destroy all 
living organisms (such as pathogens) as well as partially cook (!) any 
foodstuffs sent in the mail. They also said electronics could be damaged, 
hence my concern. They showed a diagram of the irradiating device and it 
looked sort of like a CRT - cathode emits electrons, which is guided and 
formed into a wide beam to cover the whole package by a charged shield or 
deflector (didn't say whether it was electrostatic or electromagnetic). 
This is performed in a shielded room and (I assume) under vacuum.

Jonathan W2MXW