Roentgen Rays and Phenomena of the Anode and Cathode.Thompson, Edward P. (Edward Pruden)
History
Roentgen Rays and Phenomena of the Anode and Cathode.
Thompson, Edward P. (Edward Pruden)
X-rays
INTRODUCTION.
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The new form of energy, for which there are two names—to wit, the
Roentgen ray and the X-ray—is radiated from a highly exhausted discharge
tube, which may be energized by an induction coil or other suitable
electrical apparatus, such as a Holtz or a Wimshurst electrical machine.
§ 106. The principle underlying the construction of the usual induction
(or Ruhmkorff) coil is disclosed in the subject-matter of § § 1, 2, and
3, and is represented in diagram in Figs. 1 and 2 on page 17. It would
be well for the amateur or general scientific reader to study these
sections carefully, for then he will have all the knowledge that is
necessary for understanding the apparatus by which the discharge tube is
energized. Of course, he will not comprehend the various mechanical
details, nor the many electrical and mathematical relations existing in
connection with an induction coil, but he will gain sufficient knowledge
to appreciate what is intended when such a device is referred to here
and there throughout the book. Since the time of Faraday, Page, and
Fizeau induction coils of very large dimensions have been constructed,
but none of them probably ever exceeded that built by Spottiswoode,
during or about 1875, which was so powerful as to produce between the
two electric terminals, in open air, a spark of 42 in. in the secondary
current with only 30 small galvanic cells of the Grove type in the
primary circuit. The cells are seldom used in this connection at the
present time, the same being replaced by the dynamo, and the current
being conveniently obtained from the regular incandescent-lamp circuit
which may be found in almost any city. Those, therefore, who intend to
become better acquainted with the details of the electrical apparatus
should study in conjunction with this book some elementary treatise
relating particularly to dynamos and electric currents.
The essential element in connection with the generation of X-rays is not
the coil nor the dynamo, but the electric discharge, especially when
occurring within a rarefied atmosphere, provided within a glass bulb,
called the discharge tube throughout the book, but which has usually
been called by different names, for example, the receiver of an air
pump, or a Geissler tube, when the air is not very highly exhausted, or
a Crookes tube (see picture at § 123) when the vacuum is definitely much
higher by way of contrast. It has also been called a Hittorff tube, the
Lenard tube, and by several other names, according to its peculiar
characteristics.
[Illustration:
FIG. 1.—HEAD.
]
[Illustration:
FIG. 2.—BROKEN ARM, OVERLAPPING.
(Due to defective setting.)
]
[Illustration:
FIG. 3.—RIBS.
]
[Illustration:
FIG. 4.—KNEE, KNICKERBOCKER BUTTONS, BULLET IN FEMUR.
]
FROM SCIAGRAPHS BY PROF. DAYTON C. MILLER. § 204.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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