Experiments on the Discharge of Electricity through Gases. Sketch of a Theory, The Bakerian Lecture in Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 37, 1884, pp. 317-339) WITH The Discharge of Electricity through Gases II, The Bakerian Lecture in Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 47,1890, pp. 526-561 [FIRST DEMONSTRATION THAT AN ELECTRIC CURRENT IS CONDUCTED BY IONS]

Schuster, Arthur

Published by Royal Society, London

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TWO VOLUME FIRST EDITIONS OF THE BAKERIAN LECTURES IN WHICH THE GERMAN-BRITISH PHYSICIST SIR ARTHUR SCHUSTER "WAS THE FIRST TO SHOW THAT AN ELECTRIC CURRENT IS CONDUCTED BY IONS" (Knill). In these lectures, Schuster "also showed that the current could be maintained by a small potential once ions were present. He was the first to indicate a path toward determining the charge-mass ration e/m for cathode rays by using a magnetic field. This method would ultimately lead to the discovery of the electron" (ibid). "In 1884 [presented here in the first lecture and] following his own cathode ray experiments, Schuster claimed that cathode rays are particulate in nature and that the particles all carry the same quantity of electricity. He also performed experiments on the magnetic deflection of the rays, which by 1890 [in the second lecture] allowed him to compute upper and lower bounds for the ratio of charge to mass of the particles comprising the rays. Schuster claimed that the particles were negatively charged gas molecules" (Achinstein, Evidence, Explanation, and Realism, 310). "In his second Bakerian lecture, Schuster. emphasized that all known cases of conduction in gases could be traced to the production of ions by various causes, including high heat, electric discharge, and UV light. He now systematically used â??ion' instead of â??charged atom'. Thus was born a new physics of ions, no longer confined to gas discharge or electrolysis, and promising to unify a wide range of phenomena" (Darrigol, Electrodynamics, 290). CONDITION & DETAILS: London: The Royal Society. Two complete volumes. 8vo. 8.5 by 5.5 inches (213 x 138mm).Volume 37: [4], vii, [490], xxxii, [4]. Volume 47: [4], viii, [561], xxiv, [4]. Illustrations: Volume 37 is illustrated throughout with in-text figures and 4 plates. Volume 47 is illustrated throughout with in-text figures and 9 plates. Ex-libris with two stamps on each title page and occasional stamps within (none impacting text). There are no exterior markings whatsoever on either volume. Handsomely rebound in half calf over aged marbled paper boards, gilt-lettered at the spine. Five gilt-ruled raised bands at the spine; each compartment gilt tooled. Marbled text block. Bright and clean throughout. Both volumes are in near fine condition in every way. Seller Inventory # 580

Bibliographic Details

Title: Experiments on the Discharge of Electricity ...

Publisher: Royal Society, London

Edition: 1st Edition.