Voltage spawning a cathode ray

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SUMMARY

The formation of a cathode ray is a result of electrons emitted from the cathode and accelerated by a negative voltage applied to the vacuum tube. This process involves thermionic emission, where the cathode is heated, or the use of a cold cathode, which requires a high voltage to ionize the gas within the tube. The potential difference necessary for this acceleration is created by the voltage between the cathode and the anode.

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In descriptions of the cathode ray, various sites mention how the ray is formed from a voltage applied to the tube which spawns the ray on sees in the vacuum tube. Could someone elaborate on how a voltage can spawn this beam? As in, where does the potential difference come from and so on.

Thank you
 
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A "cathode ray" is simply an electron that has been emitted from the cathode and accelerated by the negative voltage applied. (Or a positive voltage from an anode) The electrons can be emitted through "thermionic emission" by heating the cathode, or a "cold cathode" can be used in which a very high voltage ionizes the remaining gas inside an evacuated vacuum tube.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode_ray
 
Thank you! :smile:
 

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