Possible Hydrodynamical Character of Moving and Stationary Striations

THE striated column of the glow discharge has long been one of the most tantalizing phenomena in Nature. Although many theories have been advanced to account for this effect, none has yet met acceptance except perhaps in limited and specialized situations. The extensive and well-known literature is too voluminous for discussion here. Only a few typical references will be cited1–4. It is the purpose of this communication to direct attention to a mechanism which can give a unifying framework for the basic phenomena of these Striations, The salient features of this new hypothesis will be outlined here; but the details will be reserved for a future report, which is now in process of preparation.