The canal rays are

A stream of positively charged particles

The canal rays, also known as anode rays, are streams of positively charged particles that are observed in certain experiments involving discharge tubes. These rays were discovered by Eugen Goldstein in 1886 and played a significant role in the study of atomic structure.

Discovery and Naming Canal Rays:

• Canal rays were named because they pass through perforations (or "canals") in the cathode in a discharge tube.
• Unlike cathode rays, which are negatively charged and travel from the cathode to the anode, canal rays move in the opposite direction—toward the cathode.

Formation of Canal Rays:

• Canal rays are formed when gas atoms inside the discharge tube lose electrons due to collisions with high-energy electrons from the cathode.
• The loss of electrons makes the gas atoms positively charged, creating positively charged ions.