Radiographic images by thermocurrent phenomena

Thermocurrent experiments, besides having potential for dosimetry, have also indicate the feasibility of using ionic solids for radiographic imaging. The image is formed by collection of the charge on mylar film and then development in the powder cloud technique. The charge yield of a material is dependent on the purity of the solid; a value of about 10-10 coulomb/cm2-mR at a field of 105 V/cm was measured for Al2O3. The charge yield varies linearly with the electric field for temperatures ranging from room temperature to 800C. Radiographic images were obtained using Al2O3 and gadolinium gallium garnet at atmospheric pressure using 80 kVp x-rays