- On this subject, see, for example Hunt B. The Maxwellians Cornell 1991
- For example Carazza B. Guidetti G.P. Robotti N. A note on light dispersion formula and the development of modern physics Proceedings of International Conference on ‘Foundations of Quantum Mechanics’ Lecce 1993 93 104
- Lorentz , H.A. 1936 . “ Concerning the relation between the velocity of propagation of light and the density and composition of media ” . In Collected Papers Edited by: Lorentz , H.A. Vol. II , 1 – 119 . The Hague in the original paper appeared in Verhandelingen der Koninglijke Akademie van Wetenschappen, Amsterdam, 18 (1878).
- Kolacek , F. 1887 . Versuch einer Dispersionserklarung vom Standpunkte der electromagnetische Lichttheorie . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 32 : 224 – 255 .
- Helmholtz , H. 1893 . Electromagnetische Theorie der Farbenzerstreuung . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 48 : 389 – 405 .
- We must not overlook the work of Danish scientist Ludvig Lorenz. He studied the connection between the refraction index and the density of a medium in a paper published in 1869 Lorenz L.V. Experimentale og theoretiske undersogelser over legemernesbrydningsforhold, I Kongelige Danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhandlinger 1869 8 203 248 The study of this relation links his work with that of his near-namesake, Lorentz. However, Lorenz's theory is not dealt with in this paper, since he assumed a phenomenological expression for the molecular polarizability as a function of frequency, without devising a specific model for it. His conception of the nature of light was also not exactly electromagnetic, although it could be defined as electrodynamic. He identified light with vibrations of electrical currents transverse to the direction of propagation, so considering space as a conductor. On this subject, see H. Kragh, ‘Ludvig Lorenz and nineteenth century optical theory: the work of a great Danish scientist’, Applied Optics, 30 (1991), 4688–95. For more or less similar reasons, see the earlier contributions of J. W. Gibbs, ‘Notes on the Electromagnetic Theory of Light, No. I: On Double Refraction and the Dispersion of Colors in perfectly transparent Media’, American Journal of Science, 22 (1882), 262–75; idem, ‘Notes on the Electromagnetic Theory of Light, No. II: On Double refraction in perfectly transparent Media which exhibit the Phenomena of Circular Polarization’, American Journal of Science, 23 (1882), 460–76, towards establishing the electromagnetic theory of dispersion, and contributions such as D. A. Goldhammer, ‘Bemerkungen zur Abhandlung des Hnrn. E. Cohn “Zur Electrodynamik der Leiter”’, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 46 (1892), 99–104; idem, ‘Die Dispersion und Absorption des Lichtes nach der electrischen Lichttheorie’, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 47 (1892), 93–106, which also fall into the period under examination, will not be considered.
- On this subject, see Whittaker E.T. A History of the Theories of Aether and Electricity , 2nd edn New York 1989
- Lorentz . 1936 . “ Concerning the relation between the velocity of propagation of light and the density and composition of media ” . In Collected Paper Edited by: Lorentz , H.A. Vol. II , 1 – 119 . The Hague in
- Cauchy , A.L. 1836 . “ Sur la dispersion de la lumière ” . In Nouveaux exercises mathématiques Prague
- Le Roux , F.P. 1862 . Indices de refraction des corps gazeux à des températures élevées; dispersion anomale de la vapeur d'iode . Comptes Rendus , 55 : 126 – 128 .
- Christiansen , C. 1870 . Zwei optische Beobacht-Methoden . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 141 : 470 – 473 .
- Kundt , A.A. 1871 . Anomale Dispersion . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 142 : 164 – 210 .
- Soret , J.L. 1871 . La dispersion anomalede quelques substances . Archives des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles , 40 : 122 – 126 .
- Kundt , A.A. 1873 . Beziehung zwischen Dispersion und Absorption des Lichts . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 151 : 215 – 224 .
- Lodge , O. 1896 . The surving hypothesis concerning the X-rays . The Electrician , 37 July : 370 – 372 . 17
- Le Roux . 1862 . Indices de refraction des corps gazeux à des températures élevées; dispersion anomale de la vapeur d'iode . Comptes Rendus , 55 : 126 – 128 .
- Le Roux . 1862 . Indices de refraction des corps gazeux à des températures élevées; dispersion anomale de la vapeur d'iode . Comptes Rendus , 55 : 126 – 128 .
- Maxwell considered this question in 1869. It was pointed out by Lord Rayleigh who reported Maxwell's results in The Theory of Anomalous Dispersion Philosophical Magazine 1899 48 151 152 M. Jammer erroneously indicated Maxwell's theory as an electromagnetic theory: The Conceptual Development of Quantum Mechanics (New York, 1966), 189.
- Sellmeier , W. 1871 . Theorie der anomal Licht-Dispersion . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 143 : 272 – 278 . ‘Mitschwingen der Koerpertheilchen und ihre Ruckwirkung auf di Aetherschwingungen’, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 145 (1871), 399; ‘Mitschwingen der Koerpertheilchen und ihre Ruckwirkung auf di Aetherschwingungen’, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 147 (1872), 386; ‘Mitschwingen der Koerpertheilchen und ihre Ruckwirkung auf di Aetherschwingungen’, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 147 (1872), 525.
- For a contemporary review on the ‘mechanical’ dispersion theories, see Carvallo E. Sur les Theories et Formules de dispersion Congrès International de Physique Paris 1900 3 in Gauthier-Villars Imprimeur Libraire, II, 175–99.
- Lorentz . 1936 . “ Concerning the relation between the velocity of propagation of light and the density and composition of media ” . In Collected Papers Edited by: Lorentz , H.A. Vol. II , 1 – 119 . The Hague in
- Lorentz , H.A. 1880 . Ueber die Beziehung zwischen der Fortpflanzungsgeschwindigkeit des Lichtes und der Korperdichte . Annalen der Phisik , 9 : 641 – 665 .
- Lorentz , H.A. 1936 . “ La theorie electromagnetique de Maxwell et son application aux corps mouvants ” . In Collected Papers Edited by: Lorentz , H.A. Vol. II , 164 – 343 . The Hague in The original paper appeared in Archives néerlandaises 25 (1892), 363–551.
- Lorentz , H.A. 1875 . Over de theorie der terugkaasting en der breking vom het licht Arnhem
- Hirosige , T. 1969 . Origins of Lorentz's Theory of Electrons and the Concept of the Electromagnetic Field . Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences , 1 : 151 – 209 . Hirosige, however, does not discuss the case we shall describe, in which the ether completely fills the cavity around each individual molecule. It seems to us that this case is very important when considering the origin of Lorentz's electrodynamics.
- For Helmholtz's formulation of the electrodynamics, see Woodruff A.E. The Contribution of Hermann von Helmholtz to Electrodynamics Isis 1968 59 300 311 J. Buchwald, From Maxwell to Microphysics: Aspects of Electromagnetic Theory in the Last Quarter of the Nineteenth Century (Chicago, 1985), chapter 21; and O. Darrigol, ‘The Electrodynamic Revolution in Germany as Documented by Early German Expositions of “Maxwell's Theory”’, Archives for the History of Exact Sciences, 45 (1992–93), 189–280.
- Sometimes this is indicated as the Clausius-Mossotti formula. In the limiting case of zero frequency, when the refraction index is therefore expressed by the static dielectric constant (or by what Lorentz defines as the specific inductive power), this result is indeed attributed to Clausius and Mossotti, for example, by Lorentz himself: Lorentz H.A. The Theory of Electrons New York 1952 145 145 1st edn B. G. Teubner (Leipzig, 1909). Actually, O. F. Mossotti's Memorie di Matematica e di Fisica della Societa' Italiana delle Scienze Residente in Modena, 24, pt II (1850), 49–74, contains the formula only implicitly; R. Clausius' Die Mechanische Warmetheorie (Braunschweig, 1879) does, but before its publication analogous formulas had already been given by C. Maxwell, Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism, 3rd edn (Oxford, 1904), i, 440–1, ii, 57–8. In the more general case, the relation between refraction inde xand density is usually more correctly indicated as the ‘Lorenz-Lorentz’ formula. This is because of the extension to the case of variable fields made by both Lorentz and his Danish near-namesake several years previously.
- Lorentz . 1936 . “ La theorie electromagnetique de Maxwell et son application aux corps mouvants ” . In Collected Papers Edited by: Lorentz , H.A. Vol. II , 164 – 343 . The Hague in
- Lorentz . 1936 . “ La theorie electromagnetique de Maxwell et son application aux corps mouvants ” . In Collected Papers Edited by: Lorentz , H.A. Vol. II , 164 – 343 . The Hague in
- Jammer . 1966 . The Conceptual Development of Quantum Mechanics 188 – 195 . New York O. Darrigol (note 26), chapter IX; J. Mehra and H. Rechenberg, The Historical Development of Quantum Theory, ii (New York, 1982); Carazza et al. (note 1).
- Kolacek . 1887 . Versuch einer Dispersionserklarung vom Standpunkte der electromagnetische Lichttheorie . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 32 : 224 – 255 .
- This paper was followed by an additional note Kolacek F. Nachtrag zur Abhandlung: Versuch einer Dispersionserklarung Annalen der Physik und Chemie 1887 32 429 439 and by another a year later (F. Kolacek, ‘Beitrage zur electromagnetischen Lichttheorie’, Annalen der Physik und Chemie, 34 [1888], 673–711).
- Maxwell . 1992–93 . Archives for the History of Exact Sciences , 45 : 189 – 280 .
- Ketteler , E. 1885 . Theoretische Optik 559 – 559 . Braunscweig
- Reiff , R. 1895 . Zur Dispersionstheorie . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 55 : 82 – 94 .
- Thomson , J.J. 1892 . Notes on Recent Researches in Electricity and Magnetism London
- Goldhammer . 1892 . Bemerkungen zur Abhandlung des Hnrn. E. Cohn “Zur Electrodynamik der Leiter” . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 46 : 99 – 104 .
- Drude , P. 1906 . “ Theorie der Dispersion ” . In Handbuch der Physik , 2nd edn Edited by: Winkelmann , A. 1316 – 1387 . Leipzig
- Antonelli , A. 1899 . La dispersione della luce nella teoria elettromagnetica . Il Nuovo Cimento , 10 : 372 – 379 .
- Helmholtz , H. 1881 . On the modern development of Faraday's conception of electricity . Journal of the Chemical Society , 39 : 277 – 304 .
- Stoney , J.G. On the physical units of Nature . Report of the British Association, Forty-fourth Meeting . 1874 , Belfast. Philosophical Magazine , Edited by: Stoney , G.J. Vol. 11 , pp. 381 – 390 . published with the same title in
- Faraday , M. 1839 . Experimental Researches in Electricity. Seventh Series . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society , : 77 – 122 . pt I
- For example Robotti N. L'elettrone di Stoney Physis 1979 21 103 143
- Helmholtz . 1893 . Electromagnetische Theorie der Farbenzerstreuung . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 48 : 389 – 405 .
- Helmholtz , H. 1875 . Theorie der Anomalen Dispersion . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 154 : 33 – 47 .
- Stoney . On the physical units of Nature . Report of the British Association, Forty-fourth Meeting . 1874 , Belfast. Philosophical Magazine , Edited by: Stoney , G.J. Vol. 11 , pp. 381 – 390 . published with the same title in
- Lodge , O.J. 1885 . On electrolysis . Report of the British Association, Fifty-fifth Meeting, Aberdeen , : 723 – 764 .
- Stoney . On the physical units of Nature . Report of the British Association, Forty-fourth Meeting . 1874 , Belfast. Philosophical Magazine , Edited by: Stoney , G.J. Vol. 11 , pp. 381 – 390 . published with the same title in
- Richarz , M.F. 1891 . Sitzungsberichte der Niederrhein Gesellschaft zu Bonn , reported in H. Ebert, ‘Heat of dissociation according to the electrochemical theory’, Philosophical Magazine, 38 (1894), 332–6.
- Darrigol . 1992–93 . The Electrodynamic Revolution in Germany as Documented by Early German Expositions of “Maxwell's Theory” . Archives for the History of Exact Sciences , 45 : 193 – 193 .
- Reiff . 1895 . Zur Dispersionstheorie . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 55 : 82 – 94 .
- Rubens , H. 1894 . Prufung der Ketteler-Helmholtz'schen Dispersionsformel . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 53 : 267 – 286 .
- Reiff . 1895 . Zur Dispersionstheorie . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 55 : 82 – 94 .
- Helmholtz , H. 1893 . Zusatze und Berichtigungen zu dem Aufsatze Electromagnetische Theorie der Farbenzerstreuung . Annalen der Physik und Chemie , 48 : 723 – 725 .
- Guillaume , C.E. 1896 . Les Rayons X et la photographie a travers les corps opaques Paris
- Roentgen , W.K. 1895 . Sitzungsberichte der Physikalisch-medizinischen Gesellschaft zu Wurzburger preliminary communication in published in ‘On a new form of radiation’, The Electrician, 36 (1896), 415–17.
- Guillaume . 1896 . Les Rayons X et la photographie a travers les corps opaques Paris
- Thompson , S.P. 1896 . Radiations visibles et invisibles Paris
- Roentgen . 1895 . Sitzungsberichte der Physikalisch-medizinischen Gesellschaft zu Wurzburger 415 – 415 .
- Jaumann , G. January 1896 . “ Longitudinal light ” . In The Electrician Vol. 37 , January , 417 – 417 . 24
- Roentgen . 1895 . Sitzungsberichte der Physikalisch-medizinischen Gesellschaft zu Wurzburger 417 – 417 .
- Wheaton , B.R. 1983 . The Tiger and the Shark New York
- Lodge . 1896 . The surving hypothesis concerning the X-rays . The Electrician , 37 July : 370 – 372 . 17
- Thomson , J.J. 1896 . Les rayons Roentgen . Revue Scientifique , 6 : 289 – 295 .
- Raveau , P. 1896 . Meeting of the French Physical Society . February 7 1896 . reported in Lodge (note 15).
- In reality, the polarization of X-rays remains problematic from 1896 to 1904. A definitive confirmation of the absence of this property was achieved only with the experiments of Barkla in 1903. Wheaton The Tiger and the Shark New York 1983 19 19 45
- Raveau . 1896 . Meeting of the French Physical Society . February 7 1896 .
- One of the most enthusiastic supporters of the theory of Helmholtz was Lodge, who published the results of the theory in The Electrician July 1896 37 370 372 17
- 1896 . Notes . The Electrician , 37 July : 365 – 365 . 7
- A short time after these enthusiastic comments in the English journal, Lord Rayleigh, perhaps with a touch of patriotic pique, announced that, using the elastic theory of light, Maxwell had much earlier obtained a valid formula for the dispersion of light, but which had been neglected (see The Theory of Anomalous Dispersion Philosophical Magazine 1899 48 151 152
- Wheaton . 1983 . The Tiger and the Shark 15 – 15 . New York
- Lorentz . 1936 . “ La theorie electromagnetique de Maxwell et son application aux corps mouvants ” . In Collected Papers Edited by: Lorentz , H.A. Vol. II , 68 – 68 . The Hague in
- Whittaker . 1989 . A History of the Theories of Aether and Electricity , 2nd edn Vol. I , 293 – 293 . New York
- Zeeman , P. 1897 . On the Influence of Magnetism on the Nature of the Light emitted by a Substance . Philosophical Magazine , 43 : 226 – 239 .
- Lorentz , H.A. 1898 . “ Optical phenomena connected with the charge and mass of the ions ” . In Collected Papers Edited by: Lorentz , H.A. Vol. III , 17 – 29 . The Hague in 1936
- Lorentz . 1898 . “ Optical phenomena connected with the charge and mass of the ions ” . In Collected Papers Edited by: Lorentz , H.A. Vol. III , 20 – 20 . The Hague
- Lorentz . 1898 . “ Optical phenomena connected with the charge and mass of the ions ” . In Collected Papers Edited by: Lorentz , H.A. Vol. III , 20 – 20 . The Hague
- Lorentz . 1898 . “ Optical phenomena connected with the charge and mass of the ions ” . In Collected Papers Edited by: Lorentz , H.A. Vol. III , 21 – 21 . The Hague
- On the subject, see, for example, Anderson D.L. The Discovery of the Electron Princeton 1964 Van Nostrand Momentum Book; Whittaker (note 7); I. Falconer, ‘Corpuscles, electrons and cathode rays: J. J. Thomson and the discovery of the electron’, British Journal for the History of Science, 20 (1987), 241–76; and G. E. Owen, ‘The discovery of the electron’, Annals of Science, 11 (1956), 172–82.
- Thomson , J.J. 1899 . Uber die Masse der Trager der Negativen Elektrisierung in Gasen von Niederen Drucken . Physikalische Zeitschrift , 1 : 20 – 22 . idem, ‘On the existence of masses smaller than the atoms’, Report of the Sixty-ninth Meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of the Science, Dover (September 1899), Philosophical Magazine, 48 (1899), 547–67. On this subject, see N. Robotti, ‘J. J. Thomson at the Cavendish Laboratory: the history of an electric charge measurement’, Annals of Science, 52 (1995), 265–84.
Annals of Science
Volume 53, 1996 - Issue 6