Wilhem Konrad Roentgen - Discoverer of X-rays

The use of X-rays has made an astounding impact on the whole world. X-ray were discovered in 1895 by Prof. whilhelm Konrad Roentgen of Germany at the age of fifty. At that time he did not know what those rays were. As unknown factor is called X in Maths, he named it as X-ray. It is called Roentgen Ray too. For this discovery he was hawarded the Nobel Prize of Physics in 1901.

The discovery of X-rays is very interesting. One day Prof. roentgen was experimenting with electric discharge of gases in a cathode ray tube, partially evacuated glass tube which was covered with a black paper, in his laboratory room which was in complete darkness. He observed that a crystal of barium platinocyanide lying near the cathode ray tube. When the tube was in operating it emitted fluorescence. He then theorized that some unknown rays were passing through the covered walls of the tube. He found that these rays could pass through paper of wood or thin foils of metals. Those rays were like the light rays, but of very short wavelengths not visible to human eye.

On this theory he thought if an ardinary light could effect the photographic plate, these rays should also be able to affect them. Roentgen placed his wife's hand on a photographic plate and passed X-rays through it. When the plate was developed on the plate were clearly pictured bones of the hand with out lines of the surrounding flesh. The ring which was worn by the wife too was visible. It was the first time when a photograph of a living being's skeleton was taken.

Although these rays are very useful inrevealing body's ailments, also are very harmful if used in excess. Two co-workers who worked for the development died because of the X-rays effects in them.

X-rays discovered by Roentgen are put to more and more uses in the medical field and also in various areas. It is used for taking photograph of bones, treating cancer, examine the diseases of lunges, and finding of stones in kidney and gall-bladder. Further than that it is used to detect gold and valuable gems hidden in the body for smuggling. It can detect and separate natural and artificial diamonds. X-rays are also used to determine the structure of crystals and detect cracks and bubbles in iron bars used to build bridges etc. Using X-rays, a diagnostic machine called Cat-Scanner has been evolved and is very useful for the diagnosis of various diseases in human body.

Prof. Roentgen, apart from X-ray, conducted research on other fields such as, elasticity capillary action of fluid, specific heats of gases, conduction of heat in crystals, absorption of heat by gases. This great man died at 77, on 10th February 1923.