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cathode ray tube The picture tube of one type of radar screen. Cathode ray is the nineteenth-century term for a beam of electrons. A radar's CRT works (very roughly) the same way a TV screen does. A beam of electrons impinging on the phosphor of the screen is focused and deflected to match and display the information obtained from the radar's microwave analysis. The front face of the CRT that contains the radar targets is called the PPI (plan position indicator) or sometimes just the radar screen. See also liquid crystal display. Abbreviation:  CRT

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