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William David Coolidge (1873–1975). Biography with special reference to X-ray tubes
Affiliations- 4, Town End MeadowCartmelGrange-over-SandsCumbria LA1 6QG, United Kingdom
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Abstract
William Coolidge (1873–1975) is famous for the invention and development of the hot cathode X-ray tube, sometimes called the Coolidge X-ray tube, which immediately made the previous designs of gas X-ray tube obsolete. He was born in Hudson, Massachusetts, studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and graduated with a PhD in Physics from the University of Leipzig. In 1905 he joined the General Electric Company (GEC) Research Laboratory at Schenectady and in 1913 invented the Coolidge X-ray tube which is the prototype of modern apparatus. He was consultant in X-rays to GEC for some quarter of a century, 1945–1961. As well as his work with X-rays, he developed the first successful submarine detection system, with Irving Langmuir (1881–1957), and during World War II undertook research relating to radar, the atomic bomb, rockets and anti-submarine devices. He was also, during WWII appointed to President Roosevelt’s Advisory Committee on Uranium. He obtained 83 patents during his lifetime (all assigned to GEC). Coolidge spent his entire career with GEC, from 1905 when he joined the company at Schenectady to work in lamp research, until his death when he was an Emeritus Director of Research & Development. One of the most complete lists to be published of papers by Coolidge is found in the References.
Abstract
William Coolidge (1873–1975) is famous for the invention and development of the hot cathode X-ray tube, sometimes called the Coolidge X-ray tube, which immediately made the previous designs of gas X-ray tube obsolete. He was born in Hudson, Massachusetts, studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and graduated with a PhD in Physics from the University of Leipzig. In 1905 he joined the General Electric Company (GEC) Research Laboratory at Schenectady and in 1913 invented the Coolidge X-ray tube which is the prototype of modern apparatus. He was consultant in X-rays to GEC for some quarter of a century, 1945–1961. As well as his work with X-rays, he developed the first successful submarine detection system, with Irving Langmuir (1881–1957), and during World War II undertook research relating to radar, the atomic bomb, rockets and anti-submarine devices. He was also, during WWII appointed to President Roosevelt’s Advisory Committee on Uranium. He obtained 83 patents during his lifetime (all assigned to GEC). Coolidge spent his entire career with GEC, from 1905 when he joined the company at Schenectady to work in lamp research, until his death when he was an Emeritus Director of Research & Development. One of the most complete lists to be published of papers by Coolidge is found in the References.
Keywords
tungsten, incandescent lamps, gas tubes, hot cathode X-ray tubes, William David Coolidge, Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen…
About this articleTitle
William David Coolidge (1873–1975). Biography with special reference to X-ray tubes
Journal
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology
Issue
Article type
Other materials agreed with the Editors
Pages
273-280
Published online
2017-12-29
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836
Article views/downloads
1871
DOI
Bibliographic record
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2017;67(4):273-280.
Keywords
tungsten
incandescent lamps
gas tubes
hot cathode X-ray tubes
William David Coolidge
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen…
Authors
Richard F. Mould