N" RAYS 



On the Polarization of " X" Rays (Feb. 2, 1903). 

 Note i. 



HITHERTO the attempts made to polarize "X" 

 rays have remained fruitless. I asked myself 

 whether "X " rays emitted by a focus tube are 

 not polarized as soon as emitted. I was led to 

 put to myself this question by considering that 

 the conditions of asymmetry which should 

 exist for the polarization of such rays are in 

 this case exactly satisfied. For each ray is 

 generated from a cathode ray, and the two rays 

 define a plane ; thus, through each ray emitted 

 by the tube a plane passes, in which, or nor- 

 mally to which, the ray may well have special 

 properties, this being, in fact, an asymmetry 

 characteristic of polarization. Now, if this 

 polarization exists, how can the fact be ascer- 

 tained? It struck me that a small spark, such 



B 



