Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 October 2008
It has been observed by various workers that, in addition to particles ejected from the various atomic levels of the atoms concerned, some are ejected by rays which correspond to the natural K X-radiation of those atoms. It has also been shown that some radioactive substances emit β particles of comparatively low energy. Therefore it was thought advisable to make an attempt to see whether this “soft” radiation has a line spectrum; for one would expect to find traces of the natural L-radiation, just as one finds evidence of the K-radiation, provided that the effect is sufficiently intense.