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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Coolidge tube, used by Dr. Burkitt, made by General Electric, USA, c.1920
American physicist William Coolidge (1832-1919) patented his ‘hot cathode’ tube in 1913. The cathode was a heated, electron-emitting tungsten filament. It produced a high output of X-rays that did not fluctuate and were easily adjusted. This eliminated many problems of the older so-called ‘gas tubes’. Combined with more reliable power supplies, it allowed X-ray techniques to become standardised and reproducible. The fins at the end of the tube disperse the heat generated in the tungsten anode which the larger currents use.
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Details
- Category:
- Radiomedicine
- Object Number:
- A600223
- Materials:
- anode, metal, anticathode, copper, cathode, metal, tube, glass and tungsten
- type:
- x-ray tube
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- x-ray machine
- credit:
- Burkitt, K.
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Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
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