canal ray

physics

Also known as: Kanalstrahlen, anode ray, positive ray

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June 22, 2026

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Canal rays, also known as positive rays, are streams of positively charged ions moving toward the cathode within a discharge tube. The term "canal ray" originates from the German word kanalstrahl, referring to the openings in the cathode through which these ions pass. This phenomenon is a fundamental concept in understanding the behavior of charged particles in electrical discharges.12

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Eugen Goldstein
…what he termed Kanalstrahlen, or canal rays, also called positive rays; these are positively charged ions that are accelerated toward and through a perforated cathode in an evacuated tube. He also contributed greatly to the study of cathode rays; in 1876 he showed that these rays could cast sharp shadows,…
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…what he termed Kanalstrahlen, or canal rays, also called positive rays; these are positively charged ions that are accelerated toward and through a perforated cathode in an evacuated tube. He also contributed greatly to the study of cathode rays; in 1876 he showed that these rays could cast sharp shadows,…
Read More