Understanding Cathode Ray Discharge and Electron Knockout

[physics kiddy]

When a high voltage is applied across the electrodes of the discharge tube, and the pressure of the gas inside the tube is lowered, the electrical energy knocks out some of the electrons from the atoms. These constitute the cathode rays. How does electrical energy knocks out electrons is something I want to know. Please explain.

 

[rcgldr]

Usually the electrons are emmited due to thermal transmission (hot cathode) similar to common vacuum tube technolgy. Wiki articles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode_ray_tube

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_cathode

As a bit of trivia, there was a CRT used as a memory storage device, called a Williams Tube.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williams_tube