X-rays for telecommunications?

[Radium]

Hi:

Has the use of x-rays for telecommuncations ever been considered? I
imagine that x-ray photons would have more bandwidth than
visible-spectrum photons. Other than bandwidth, are there any
advantages to using x-rays instead of light. One major disadvantage, is
the fact that x-rays could injure humans and possible some metal
equipments by knocking electrons off the atoms -- one solution to this
would be to use a lower rate of x-rays photons per second so that the
amount of x-ray power* does not reach the danger level.


Thanks,

Radium


*Power in this case define the amount of photons per second, not the
amount of eV per photon

 

[Jasen Betts]

Hi:

Has the use of x-rays for telecommuncations ever been considered? I
imagine that x-ray photons would have more bandwidth than
visible-spectrum photons. Other than bandwidth, are there any
advantages to using x-rays instead of light. One major disadvantage, is
the fact that x-rays could injure humans and possible some metal
equipments by knocking electrons off the atoms -- one solution to this
would be to use a lower rate of x-rays photons per second so that the
amount of x-ray power* does not reach the danger level.

last I heard there were no high-bandwidth x-ray detectors
and making optic fibres for them is a hassle

x-ray telescopes were working by detecting the heat caused by the rays.

I guess modulation won't be a problem but detectors could be,

Bye.
Jasen

 

[Greg Neill]

Hi:

Has the use of x-rays for telecommuncations ever been considered? I
imagine that x-ray photons would have more bandwidth than
visible-spectrum photons. Other than bandwidth, are there any
advantages to using x-rays instead of light. One major disadvantage, is
the fact that x-rays could injure humans and possible some metal
equipments by knocking electrons off the atoms -- one solution to this
would be to use a lower rate of x-rays photons per second so that the
amount of x-ray power* does not reach the danger level.

There's no convenient way to generate, modulate, steer,
or focus X-rays. X-rays are blocked by a few inches to
a few feet of air, and don't work with the fiber optics.

So I'd say that the disadvantages cuurnetly far outweigh
any bandwidth considerations.

 

[tlbs101]

Hi:

Has the use of x-rays for telecommuncations ever been considered? I
imagine that x-ray photons would have more bandwidth than
visible-spectrum photons. Other than bandwidth, are there any
advantages to using x-rays instead of light. One major disadvantage, is
the fact that x-rays could injure humans and possible some metal
equipments by knocking electrons off the atoms -- one solution to this
would be to use a lower rate of x-rays photons per second so that the
amount of x-ray power* does not reach the danger level.


Thanks,

Radium


*Power in this case define the amount of photons per second, not the
amount of eV per photon

Hi,

Currently there is no method (except for a few lab experiments in the
100+ GHz range) to modulate a source or stream of X-rays faster several
10's of GHz, and those methods are applied to IR and visible LASERs,
just fine. So it makes no sense to modulate X-rays, if high bandwidth
comm. can be achieved using lower frequency photons.

Tom

 

[Tim Williams]

Well, if you'll read up on your highschool physics, you'll note that x-rays
are considered ionizing radiation. They knock the electrons out of anything
they touch, in the process giving up energy. A strong x-ray beam ought to
make a good plasma when it hits air, the photons having energy corresponding
to a neon sign transformer or so (depending on what part of the spectrum you
grab).

As mentioned, bandwidth is no damn where near the frequency of even THz
waves, let alone IR or visible light, which travels easily through current
technology. Ok, it's coming up on the lower THz, but not the upper THz
(although to be fair, upper THz is just lower IR anyway).

Tim