The phenomena of luminosity and their possible correlation with radio-activity

Abstract

The possibility of regarding luminous manifestations generally— including radio-activity—as the outcome of oscillatory changes in molecular structure has already been pointed out by one of us in a communication made to the Society more than a year ago, in which the kind of change contemplated was exemplified by reference to the case of nitrocamphor. As the phenomena of radio-activity are exciting so much interest, it appears desirable to enter somewhat more fully into an explanation of the argument underlying this conception of the origin of luminous appearances. In the note referred to, it was suggested that tribo-luminescent substances, i. e ., substances which become luminous at the moment of crushing, might conceivably, at the same time, manifest radio-activity.