Rays in Different Gases. 805 



My long experimental researches on these phenomena in- 

 duced me : 



(1) To abandon as absolutely insufficient the usual expla- 

 nation, according to which the action of the field would be 

 limited to altering the path followed by the electrons ; 



(2) To assume that, in addition to such an alteration of 

 path, the magnetic field would cause some electrons to join 

 with positive ions, so as to give rise to systems analogous to 

 the system formed by a planet and its satellite. 



This hypothesis is justified particularly by considering, 

 that the great instability of such systems (whose destruction 

 is evidently more easy than the ionization of an atom) is 

 diminished by the magnetic field for those in which the 

 electron revolves in a determinate sense, and besides, that 

 such systems as are made less unstable by the field, must be 

 formed preferably under the action of the magnetic force. 



This hypothesis has been always presented by me as 

 plausible and worthy co be taken into consideration ; but 

 I did not conceal the necessity and the hope of a future 

 elaboration that will make it able to explain also some 

 phenomena still obscure in detail. Considering that Messrs. 

 More and liieman, after having reviewed my theory, say, 

 that it is simple i plausible, and accounts for most of the observed 

 phenomena *, I can limit myself to a few considerations on 

 some other points of their Note, 



It is specially my experiments, which demonstrate the 

 formation of a luminous column, placed in the prolongation 

 of the magnetic rays and perfectly distinct from them (for 

 sake of brevity I will adopt the denomination of induced 

 column, proposed by the authors) that they have repeated at 

 first, and then varied. 



According to my theory this column of light would be due 

 to the periodical discharge of the cloud of positive ions given 

 up by the magnetic rays where, the intensity of the magnetic 

 field being too much reduced, the pairs ion-electron cease to 

 exist. I called the region of the gas in which these ions accu- 

 mulate the virtual anode. As to the periodicity pointed out, 

 it depends on the fact, ascertained by me, that the magnetic 

 field causes the discharge, and of course the phenomena of 

 the magnetic rays, to be discontinuous or intermitting. As 

 the existence of the virtual anode cannot be easily explained 

 otherwise, the said experiment constitutes a confirmation of 

 my theory. 



The authors did not observe the induced column when they 



* L. c. p. 311. 

 Phil. Mag. S. 6. Vol. 24. No. 143. Nov. 1912. 3 G 



