As promised here's my report. One of you recently asked if the TSA
would permit a G-M counter aboard (not checked). I had brought a micro
one to find Th gas mantles in France * w/ no trouble, but that was
eleven years ago. This time I debated whether to take it, or the
expensive mini, Vernier one (meter and speaker). Since it cost ~$200 I
didn't. It passed several times, but at one I had it in my pocket from
use on the connecting flight. As a result the examiner spotted it in
the tray and said "Checking the ray machine?" Damn, I replied I forgot
to turn it on. He laughed. Anyway data from one flight is below.
While walking from one one flight to another I passed a disassembled
machine w/ a multimeter clipped to a board w/ some HV ceramic caps. I
said, "Looks like the power supply." The tech. said, "Yes." During
the ensuing conversation, I found the tube current is 0.4 A. and the HV
~ 140 (120?) KV. "Wow", I said, "Wouldn't that fry any photo' film?"
He pointed out that it is scanned and the exposure on any spot is
rather low.
* By then couldn't find any in Monterey or Santa Cruz county. I bought
out Gallerie Lafayette's supply (about six). Curiously, at first I was
disappointed, and then found them behind the newer ones on the hook.
17:07 UK [times approx. ~ +/- one minute]
screen claims 38 k feet.
3.08 microS +/- 0.06 [Micro counter totals counts for 36 s.
places point thus x.xx claims
is microS/hr. Data printed below is the average of
about six trials. One can reverse arithmetic it from the data given.]
17:18
3.11 +/- 0.07
17:28
3.19 +/- 0.06
40k feet
3.38 +/- 0.11
17:57
3.45 +/- 0.08
18:20
3.42 +/- 0.03
Descent (started late). Continuously recorded, so time between
adjacent data ~ 40".