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They don't use heavy metals because they strongly absorb X-rays, lower density materials are better at transmitting x-rays which is why they often use very low
by raziel2701 6y ago
They don't use heavy metals because they strongly absorb X-rays, lower density materials are better at transmitting x-rays which is why they often use very low Z elements. Sometimes they dope with heavy metals but nothing has yet allowed to reach break even.
- trhway 6y agodefinitely, that is in general a factor. Though erbium and platinum doesn't differ that much than it come to X-ray attenuation. Additionally - the X-ray absorption by the lattice is important in the low energy level setting like that NASA experiment (basically equilibrium conditions) as any absorbed energy is basically lost and would just radiate away, whereis in high energy Z shot (non-equilibrium inertial confinement situation) the absorbed energy would still result in increased temperature and pressure of the target.