Gas discharge tube — Teylers Museum

Gas discharge tube

1775 - 1799

In 1858 Geissler developed the so-called ‘Geissler tube’ or gas discharge tube. This is a glass tube filled with a rarefied gas and whose ends are provided with two electrodes, between which is a high electric voltage. While Geissler aimed his research at the light phenomena generated under these conditions, the gas discharge tube was soon used for other research too. The tube shown here, for example, could be used for research into discharge phenomena in gases at different densities and different electric voltages. However, all these phenomena were explained only after a theory about the structure of atoms had been developed in the early 20th century.

Administration name

Fysisch Kabinet

Title

Gas discharge tube

Translated title

Gas discharge tube

Dating

[{'start': '1775', 'end_precision': u'', 'end': '1799', 'start_precision': u''}]

Object number

FK 0532

Reproduction reference

[{'reference': '..\\images\\Fysisch\\Gekoppelde afbeeldingen\\FK 0532.jpg'}]