Recent advances in cathode-ray-tube storage

The paper is essentially in three parts. The first part deals with current practice at Manchester University, and, in particular, with modifications to the defocus-focus system of storage and the signal amplifier. The second part deals with experimental work directed towards the clarification of the mechanism of storage. The third part expounds a qualitative theory based on the experiments described in the second part. Experiments have been performed to obtain information relevant to the following controversial points: (a) The existence of electron-cloud pulses. (b) The effect of variation in the speed of the edges of the cathode-ray-tube grid waveform. (c) The mean potential of the cathode-ray-tube screen surface. (d) The depth of a well. (e) Possible variation of well depth with beam current. It is concluded that storage operation may be theoretically explained by drawing an analogy with a triode valve; the collector, the bombarded spot and the surrounding screen surface being analogous to the anode, cathode and control grid, respectively. For technological purposes the original theory1 may well be sufficient, and it is shown that it can be used to predict storage results.