• Question: is it possible to do something to the x-rays so they do not damage small objects?

    Asked by 459utec24 to Jonny on 23 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Jonny Brooks-Bartlett

      Jonny Brooks-Bartlett answered on 23 Jun 2015:

      Very good question. The answer is no. We can’t change the X-rays. If we changed them so that they didn’t damage the small objects then they wouldn’t give us the information that we need. (We want them to produce the patterns that you can see in the last image on my profile page: /lutetiumj15-zone/profile/jonnybrooksbartlett/)

      Basically the X-rays have lots of energy and give energy to the atoms that make up the proteins. When the atoms absorb that energy they get excited and so to calm down they release electrons. Those electrons cause more damage by giving energy to other atoms.
      We don’t wan the X-rays to give the atoms so much energy but changing the energy of the X-rays too much will completely stop us getting the pattern. 🙁

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