Dear Brian,
 

I strongly advise you and anyone else not to do willy-nilly experiments with

ionizing radiation.  That's a no-no big time.  For one thing there are both

federal and state laws and regulations on that subject, since it could be

hazardous not only to you but to others around you.  It could be hazardous

both short term and long term.
 

Professional shielding against nuclear radiation is a doable, with proper

facilities and precautions, but it's heavy and expensive for things like

gamma radiation and x-rays.  There are legal and engineering standards and

professional practices involved.  So far as I'm aware, there is no way

outside the accepted standards to do effective shielding, and I would not

even try.  Also remember that radiation damage is accumulative.   There is

no such thing as a "little bit" of damage that can be ignored.  It cumulates

and comes back to bite you.
 

But my strong advice is not to do it at all unless you are properly licensed

and experienced, and have proper nuclear radiation control facilities.  You

also have to have proper warning signs, etc. and have received the proper

facilities inspections and permissions.  As you can see, it is not something

you just "haul off and do".  It's a strongly regulated and policed (with

good reason!) activity.
 

It can be a felony and a penitentiary offense to do such experiments without

the proper safeguards, labels, warning, experience, certified training,

inspected facilities, etc.  I strongly advise against it.
 

Best wishes,

Tom Bearden

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Date:   Tue, 9 Apr 2002 01:32:13 +0400 (MSD)

 

Hello, I'm looking for Tom's contact because I have an important question

regarding radiation shielding.

 

I am building electrokinetic propulsion devices and they have been known

to radiate generous amounts of x-rays and gamma-rays, I know that a bit of

lead could stop the x-rays but the drawback would be weight on the

self-levitating device.  I don't know of any materials that would block

gamma-rays though.

 

Is there possibly an energetic method of blocking, diverting or reflecting

either type of radiation?

Namaste,

Brian