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
80. SOURCE OF X-RAYS MAY BE AT POINTS WITHIN THE VACUUM SPACE.—In one
case, he employed a Lenard tube, and found that the X-rays were
generated from the window which was in the path of the cathode rays. §
67. Different bodies within the discharge tube were found to have
different quantitative powers of radiating X-rays when struck by the
cathode rays. He stated “If for example, we let the cathode rays fall on
a plate, one half consisting of a 0.3 mm. sheet of platinum and the
other half a 1 mm. sheet of aluminum, the pin-hole photograph of this
double plate will show that the sheet of platinum emits a far greater
number of X-rays than does the aluminum, this remark applying in every
case to the side upon which the cathode rays impinge.” On the reverse
side, however, of the platinum, no rays were emitted, but a large amount
was radiated from the reverse side of the aluminum. § 67. He admitted
that the explanation was simple; but, at the same time, he pointed out
that this, together with other experiments, showed that platinum is the
best for generating the most powerful X-rays. One form with which he
experimented is illustrated in Fig. J, in principle, being described as
a bulb in which a concave cathode was opposite a sheet of platinum,
placed at an angle of 45° to the axis of the curved cathode, and at the
focus thereof.
[Illustration:
J
]
81. REFLECTION OF X-RAYS.—He emphasized the knowledge that there is a
certain kind and a certain amount of reflection, such as that produced
upon light and, as pointed out by Lenard, upon cathode rays, by certain
turbid media. The following quotation sets forth the exact experiment to
show slight reflection at metal surfaces. “I exposed a plate, protected
by a black paper sheet 1 to the X-rays (_e.g._ from bulb J) so that the
glass side 2 lay next to the discharge tube. The sensitive film was
partly covered with star-shaped pieces (4 slightly displaced in the
Fig.) of platinum, lead, zinc and aluminum. On the developed negative
the star-shaped impressions showed dark (comparatively) under platinum,
lead and more markedly, under zinc; the aluminum gave no image. It
seems, therefore, that the former three metals can reflect the X-rays;
as, however, another explanation is possible, I repeated the experiment
with only this difference, that a film of thin aluminum foil was
interposed between the sensitive film and the metal stars. Such an
aluminum plate is opaque to the ultra-violet rays, but transparent to
X-rays. In the result the images appeared as before, this pointing still
to the existence of reflection at metal surfaces.”
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