The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-05-22
SOURCE OF ...1Ev ~.
CUae1aslons Arrived % ~ IN Balas
ent English Scientist.

CSae1ssions Arrived 90 ~ N Bnlns
ent English Scfentist.
AZ to the source of the r1ys. I. like
others, have made many experiments,
and the results are definite enough.
When the rays from the cathode. I'm
side the vacuum, impinge hrst on .
glass surface, then that surface Is
the source. It Is not rs II the cathode
rays penetrated the glass and proceed
ed on their path; 1t Is not rs If the
glass surface were q wave front, from
every point Of which ray penetrates
normally; the glass radiates x rays
Just as q red -hot surface radiates light.
From every point cone of rays starts
in all directions, and there Is no mu-
tllal interference in the lateral direc-
tions, as there would be between q
number of similar sources all OF the
same phase. Every point Of the glass
rnliates Independently. like a hot sur
face, in fact. The best experiments
Of Tits kind were those In which
used a magnet to defect the cathode
rays on to any chosen spot or patch
of the glass, and then took shadow
photographs through Sits and holes
placed at measured distances. The
shadows of wires Mt a distance from
the plates, taken through narrow
slit ut some distance from the wire,
show ttiat II the x radiation consists
of waves Mt all those waves must be
very small. There has been nothing,
as yet, to discriminate between longi-
tudinal and transverse oscillations.
Transverse must be considered as the
most probable ut present; but then 1t
is not certain that they are waves at
all. II waves, they must be very small
ones, and the question whether they
are transverse or longitudinal is al
most q miner consideration IL it should
turn out that the wave length is COM
parable to the size Of molecules. The
interest and importance Of such an
instrument of Investigation rs radta-
ton with that size Of wave whereby
indirectly molecules themselves would
hereafter be, rendered Internationally
visible are immense.
When the cathode rays do not first
strike the glass, but first strike a
piece of metal enclosed in the bulb,
then its behavior depends largely on
what; IT, is connected to. My expert
ments on this point are not complete,
but this much is certain, that II the
bombarded piece of metal is attached
to the cathode, SO that It f. unable to
receive"any electrical discharges from
the cathode stream, then 1t either de-
clines to act as source Of rays at oil,
or else emits radiation Of the most
feeble kind, which can without diff
Guilty be attributed to q secondary
cause: But, on the other hand, IL the
bombarded disk be connected with the
anode; so as to be abIe to receive tho
negative charges Of the cathode
stream, then it acts as a most vigorous
source! In low state of vacuum
every part Of the bulb keeps perfectly
cool, and the whole energy supplied
seems to pass off in x rays
The crop of assertions about the d.
lection Of x rays from alr manner Of
absurd sources has somewhat dwin-
died of late. and the loss liz bearabfe
one. A serious attempt must be. made
to observe IL the sun emits them, by
exposing suitable objects, such as but
let's embedded In cork, in front Of pro-
tected plates, on mountain tops. this
summer. The atmosphere; being
equivalent to over two feet Of mercury.
must entirely screen these rays from
lower levels; but Alpine tourists have
often reported' a. strange Jogging Of
plates, which they have been disposed
to attribute to the warmth Of a guides
back.-Prof. Oliver Lodge, i'm the LODI
don Electrician.