coherer

American  

[koh-heer-er, -her-] / koʊˈhɪər ər, -ˈhɛr- /

noun

1. a person or thing that coheres.

2. Radio. a device usually used in detecting radio waves, as a tube filled with a conducting substance in granular form, whose electrical resistance increases when struck by radio waves.

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coherer British  

/ kəʊˈhɪərə /

noun

1. physics an electrical component formerly used to detect radio waves, consisting of a tube containing loosely packed metal particles. The waves caused the particles to cohere, thereby changing the current through the circuit

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Etymology

Origin of coherer

First recorded in 1890–95; cohere + -er ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coherer

He invented the coherer for the detection of electric waves and to him Marconi’s first wireless message was addressed.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 28, 2011

I remember building my first "coherer" set, using filings from the milled edges of a nickel and a quarter.

From Time Magazine Archive

The filings do not all cling together, but certain chains are formed which afford a conducting path for the current subsequently passed through the coherer from an external source.

From Hertzian Wave Wireless Telegraphy by John Ambrose Fleming

The coherer, or Branly filings tube, has the peculiarity that its passage from a non-conductive to a conductive condition follows immediately when the difference of potential between its ends is made sufficiently great.

From Hertzian Wave Wireless Telegraphy by John Ambrose Fleming

The coherer is no good for this purpose, since it either stops the current entirely or lets it flow copiously.

From Marvels of Scientific Invention An Interesting Account in Non-technical Language of the Invention of Guns, Torpedoes, Submarine Mines, Up-to-date Smelting, Freezing, Colour Photography, and many other recent Discoveries of Science by Thomas W. Corbin

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