Abstract
WHILE Mr. Trouton and I were carrying out some experiments to try and drive an independent current through the arc formed when a spark passes in a Hertzian resonating receiver, we succeeded to some extent in doing so, but obtained an unexpected result which may be of service to others working upon this matter. We found that if the two sides of the receiver be connected with a delicate galvanometer, it is affected whenever a spark passes. It is not so easy to get sparks to pass when the galvanometer is so connected as when the receiver is insulated; but whenever a spark passes, the galvanometer—a 7000-ohm Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company's pattern—is deflected through several degrees and often off the scale. It is not very easy to see how the action takes place, because one would imagine that an electro-dynamometer would be required. The current is reversed along with the reversal of the primary induction, and seems to be connected with the direction of the electromagnetic impulse that first breaks down the air-space in the receiver: an explanation founded upon this consideration explains the facts so far, but further investigation is required to fully confirm it. We have found this method of observing the Hertzian phenomena, which we have worked successfully with an apparatus giving a wave-length of 0˙6 metre, much more satisfactory than the method founded on utilizing the conductivity of the spark as a path to drive an independent current either across or along. Some experiments in a vacuum tube, however, showed that this method is capable of extension. We found it also more satisfactory than a bolometer method, which, however, worked fairly well. For this we interposed, instead of the spark-gap, a very fine wire, which was made into one of the arms of a Wheatstone's bridge. The great desideratum was a very fine wire, and we intend trying silvered quartz fibres if we can obtain them, and lead drawn inside glass, &c., our hearts having been broken trying to use that brittle beauty, Wollaston wire.
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FITZGERALD, G. Multiple Resonance obtained with Hertz's Vibrators. Nature 41, 295 (1890). https://doi.org/10.1038/041295a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/041295a0
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