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Abstract
The following thesis cintains an account of researches performed by the author in the Research Laboratories of the Natural Philosophy Department at Glasgow University. The sequence of the experimental work is given in the order in which it was carried out, each part leading on naturally to the following one. The investigation of diffraction by methods similar to those used in cathode ray work failed to produce results, but on the other hand an effect was obtained which gave results very similar in ther nature to diffraction. This was therefore investigated and thereafter attention was turned to original methods which might be utilised in the study of diffraction. As the method of detention was of fundamental importance the action of electrical counters was studied and this resulted in the discovery of new types of electrical counters, the detecting vessels being H.F. discharge tubes of various kinds. Finally an entirely original methos was devised to investigate diffraction and results were obtained by transmission of beta-rays from radium E through films of gold and aluminium.