Comment by jlokier
13 days ago
X-rays are mentioned 28 times in the Wikipedia link about CRTs, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode-ray_tube
Although X-rays are not used to draw the image, they are generated as an unwanted side effect. The phosphorescent screen emits X-rays when struck by the electron beam. To protect the user, the glass must be a special kind of glass to absorb those X-rays, and the accelerator voltage has to be set not too high.
> X-rays are mentioned 28 times in the Wikipedia link about CRTs, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode-ray_tube
CTRL-F for "X-ray" gives me 1 result, "-ray" gives me 13 results ;)
Absolutely agree that X-Rays are generated in the phosphorent screen, but they are not emitted by the CRT.
> […] and the accelerator voltage has to be set not too high.
Yes, with electrons only so high that they reach the screen, which is low enough to only generate very minor secondary X-rays in the screen, which is then nicely shielded. If the phosphorous screen would be blasted with X-rays, the shielding of the screen would need to be much thicker and expensive.
(I’m working with shielded microCT machines, so speaking with a bit of experience)