On Mar 12, 2010, at 6:41 PM, Abd ul-Rahman Lomax wrote:
The kind of detector sandwich described is certainly of interest,
but is more complex than what I can take on at this time. Note
that, as described, the active surface of the gold would be away
from the phosphor screen. Horace Heffner, here, suggested another
approach, which would have a photofabricated cathode with holes in
it too small for the liquid to escape through at the pressures
involved. The active surface would be viewed edge-on, light,
including EUV that some theorize may be present, could pass through
the holes. Again, great ideas and some might even be attempted
later, but too complex. The Galileo protocol was very simple, and
I'm adding to it very cheap and very simple monitoring.
The above is not quite an accurate summary of my Edge-on Grid
Codeposition Method. Here again is my edge-on grid method URL:
http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/EdgeOnGrid.pdf
The use of photo resist etching - similar to printed circuit board
manufacturing was only one suggestion. The other is to simply drill
or punch holes into the coated grid plate. Further, the grid plate
could consist of single large hole (e.g. 1/4"). A co-deposition
surface prepared in this way I think would be far superior to the
difficulties of pressing a wire up against the Mylar protective sheet
or CR-39. It is the location of the plate and Mylar on the *outside*
of the electrolyte container that makes things work easily and cheaply.
Note also that making the holes small has not all that much to do
with the liquid pressure. The holes are covered over with Mylar film
backed by the CR-39 (see Fig. 1) which holds it in place. If leakage
is a problem the Mylar can be applied as a bag around the electrolyte
container. It may be useful to glue the Mylar to the surface of the
cathode plate at the time the CR-39 is pushed up against it.
I think this arrangement is far more precise, and also easier and
maybe cheaper than using wire cathodes, and cheap and easy to mass
produce as well. It is cheaper if plating the plate hole surfaces is
cheaper than buying the wire of the kind desired. I think the
overall cell size can be made very small using this design too,
provided thin plastic tubing and automatic feed (even if just siphon
based) is used to maintain water level.
It may be possible to locate a trophy shop or engraver to do any
required laser etching cheaply.
Best regards,
Horace Heffner
http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/
