XVI. Contributions to molecular physics in high vacua. Magnetic deflection of molecular trajectory. - Laws of magnetic rotation in high and low vacua. - Phosphorogenic properties of molecular discharge

Abstract

586. The present paper is a continuation of the Bakerian Lecture “On the Illumina­tion of Lines of Molecular Pressure and the Trajectory of Molecules read before the Royal Society, December 5, 1878. Phenomena there briefly referred to have since been more fully examined; new facts have been observed, and their theoretical bearings discussed; and numerous experiments suggested by Professor Stokes and others have been tried, with the result of acquiring much information which cannot fail to be of value in assisting to evolve a theory capable of embracing all the phenomena under discussion. 587. In par. 514 I described a piece of apparatus by means of which the molecular rays electrically projected from the negative pole at a high exhaustion were converged to a focus, the pole itself being hemi-cylindrical in shape. On referring to the coloured drawing illustrating the experiments it will be observed that the green phospho­rescence of the glass (by means of which the presence of the molecular rays is mani­fested) does not take place close to the negative pole.