The current-voltage characteristics of electrostatic machines when supplying current to non-inductive loads and to a coolidge X-ray tube

Experiments are described in which a large electrostatic machine is used as a source of potential for the discharge through (a) a Coolidge X-ray tube, and (b) a non-inductive resistance. The results are represented in the form of characteristic curves. In the former case it is shown that above a certain critical voltage the discharge is intermittent, while in the latter case the discharge is continuous for all voltages. The cause of the intermittence of the current through the Coolidge tube is assigned to the operation of the Pearson-Anson effect, and this implies the conclusion that the effect of the residual gas in such tubes is not completely insensible above a certain voltage.