DIY Electron Accelerator: A Cathode Ray Tube in a Wine Bottle

Step 11 Safety

There's something inherently dangerous about mixing high voltage power supplies with glass containers under high vacuum and if you're going to attempt this project, you should be acutely aware of that fact. Always wear appropriate protective clothing when working with glass or when operating your accelerator, and NEVER use a cracked vacuum chamber. An implosion is a very serious risk if this is the case. Also, there is no need to keep the tube energized for more than 30 to 40 seconds at a time. A properly built tube could easily run indefinitely in it's energized state, but it's safer to keep things running cool by giving it some time to rest, after all, you will need to handle the tube once the demonstration is complete.

A note about x-rays and other radiation:

With the sort of vacuum levels that can be reached using a two stage mechanical pump, there should be absolutely no cause for concern regarding the production of harmful radiation. If your accelerator will produce any radiation at all, it will be in the form of "soft" x-rays that will be contained within the chamber. In order to produce harmful amounts of radiation, you would need an oil diffusion pump with an expertly constructed vacuum system that includes a foreline trap and a 30kV+ power supply. Such a system is far beyond the scope of this instructable and there's no way a mechanical pump could "accidentally" pull a few more orders of magnitude of vacuum than it's rated for.

That said, I think the above warning sign should serve as a general guide towards safe behavior in the presence of high voltage and high vacuum. Be as careful as you possibly can and be aware that you are the only one who is responsible if something goes wrong.

Good luck!

Xellers