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Zeeman's discovery and the mass of the electron

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Pages 161-183 | Received 05 Mar 1997, Published online: 18 Sep 2006

  • 1899 . Comptes Rendus , 129 : 1093 – 1093 .
  • Endo , S. and Sachie , S. 1967 . Zeeman effect and the theory of electron of H. A. Lorentz . Japanese Studies in the History of Science , 6 : 1 – 18 . A. Romer, ‘Zeeman's discovery of the electron’, American Journal of Physics, 16 (1948), 216–23; E. C. Watson, ‘The discovery of the Zeeman effect’, American Journal of Physics, 22 (1954), 633–5; A. Pais, Inward Bound (New York: Oxford University Press, 1986); E. Whittaker, A History of the Theories of aether and electricity, 2nd Edn (New York, 1989); T. Arabatzis, ‘The discovery of the Zeeman effect: a case study of the interplay between theory and experiment’, Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, 23 (1992), 365–88.
  • Thomson , J.J. 1899 . On the existence of masses smaller than the atoms . Philosophical Magazine , 48 : 547 – 567 . Report of the Sixty-ninth meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, Dover, September 1899
  • On this subject see for example Anderson D.L. The Discovery of the Electron Princeton 1964 Whittaker (note 2); 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; G. E. Owen, ‘The discovery of the electron’, Annals of Science, 11 (1956), 53–72; N. Robotti, ‘The discovery of the electron. I.’, European Journal of Physics, 17 (1996).
  • Spencer , J.B. 1981 . “ Zeeman, Pieter ” . In Dictionary of Scientific Biography 597 – 599 . New York
  • Kerr , J. 1877 . On rotation of the plane of polarization by reflection from the pole of a magnet . Philosophical Magazine , 3 : 321 – 343 . This effect, as Kerr wrote, consisted in the following: ‘If a beam of plane-polarised light were reflected under proper conditions from the surface of intensely magnetized iron, it would have its plane of polarization turned through a sensible angle in the process or fact of reflection’ (p. 321).
  • Zeeman , P. 1897 . On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance . Philosophical Magazine , 43 : 226 – 239 . also published in American Journal of Physics, 16 (1948), 218–23.
  • Zeeman , P. 1897 . On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance . Philosophical Magazine , 43 : 227 – 227 .
  • Zeeman , P. 1897 . On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance . Philosophical Magazine , 43 : 227 – 227 .
  • Zeeman , P. 1897 . On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance . Philosophical Magazine , 43 : 231 – 231 .
  • McCormmach , R. 1981 . “ Lorentz, Hendrik Antoon ” . In Dictionary of Scientific Biography 487 – 500 . New York
  • 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 the original paper appeared in Verhandeling der Konmklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen, 18 (1878)
  • 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 The original paper appeared in Archives Neérlandaises des Sciences exactes et naturelles, 25 (1892), 363–551.
  • On this subject see Wittaker Zeeman effect and the theory of electron of H. A. Lorentz Japanese Studies in the History of Science 1967 6 1 18 T. Hirosige, ‘Origins of Lorentz's theory of electrons and the concept of the electromagnetic field’, Historica. Studies in the Physical Sciences, 1 (1969), 151–209; B. Carazza and N. Robotti, ‘The first molecular models for an electromagnetic theory of dispersion and some aspects of physics at the end of the XIX century’, Annals of Science, 53 (1996), 587–607; O. Darrigol, ‘The electron theories of Larmor and Lorentz’, Historical Studies in the Physical and Biological Sciences, 24 (1994), 265–336.
  • Zeeman , P. 1897 . The effect of magnetisation on the nature of light emitted by a substance . Nature , 55 : 347 – 347 . In this first published paper Zeeman wrote: ‘Prof. Lorentz to whom I communicated my idea was good enough to show me how the motion of the ions might be calculated’.
  • Zeeman . 1897 . On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance . Philosophical Magazine , 43 : 234 – 234 .
  • P , Zeeman . 1897 . The effect of magnetisation on the nature of light emitted by a substance . Nature , 55 : 347 – 347 .
  • Zeeman , P. 1897 . On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance . Philosophical Magazine , 43 : 235 – 235 .
  • Zeeman , P. 1897 . Doublets and triplets in the spectrum produced by external magnetic forces . Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science , 44 : 58 – 58 .
  • Zeeman . 1897 . On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance . Philosophical Magazine , 43 : 235 – 235 .
  • On this subject see Robotti N. L'elettrone di Stoney Physis 1979 21 103 143 J. O'Hara, ‘George Johnstone Stoney and the conceptual discovery of the electron’, in Stoney and the Electron (Royal Dublin Society, 1993), 5–28.
  • Stoney , G.J. 1868 . On the internal motions of gases comparated with the motion of waves of light . Philosophical Magazine , 36 : 132 – 141 . Calculating the duration of the average free path of an air molecule at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 15 °C, he obtained a value of 14 × 10-11 sec, i.e. a value which was greater (by a factor of 104 and 106 respectively) than the period of a line in the red and ultraviolet spectra.
  • Stoney , G.J. 1871 . On the cause of the interrupted spectra of gases . Philosophical Magazine , 41 : 291 – 296 .
  • Stoney . 1871 . On the cause of the interrupted spectra of gases . Philosophical Magazine , 41 : 295 – 295 .
  • Stoney , J.G. and Reynolds , J.E. 1871 . ‘An inquiry into the cause of interrupted spectra of gases’, Part II: ‘On the absorption spectrum of Chlorochromic Anydride’ . Philosophical Magazine , 42 : 41 – 52 .
  • Stoney , J.G. 1881 . On the physical units of Nature . Report of the British Association, Forty-fourth Meeting Belfast , 11 : 381 – 390 . 1874, published with the same title in G. J. Stoney, Philosophical Magazine
  • Faraday , M. 1839 . Experimental researches in electricity. Seventh series . Philosophical Transaction of the Royal Society , : 77 – 122 . Part I
  • It could therefore be considered as one of the three fundamental units on which to base ‘a truly natural system of physical units’ Stoney On the physical units of Nature Report of the British Association, Forty-fourth Meeting Belfast 1881 11 384 384 1874, published with the same title in G. J. Stoney, Philosophical Magazine The other two units were identified respectively as ‘Maxwell's velocity’ and the constant of universal gravitation.
  • Helmholtz , H. 1881 . On the modern development of Faraday's conception of electricity . Journal of the Chemical Society , 39 : 277 – 304 .
  • It is not the object of this paper to discuss the various conceptions about the nature of the electric charge proposed in the second half of the nineteenth century. A brief survey on this argument can be found in Kragh H. Concept and controversy: Jean Becquerel and the positive electron Centaurus 1989 32 203 240 esp. pp. 205–13; H. Kragh, ‘Julius Thomsen and 19th-century speculations on the complexity of atoms’, Annals of Science, 39 (1982), 37–60
  • Lodge , O.J. 1885 . On electrolysis . Report of the British Association, Fifty-fifth Meeting, Aberdeen , : 723 – 764 . M. F. Richarz, Sitzungsberichte der Niederrhein Gesellschaft zu Bonn (1891), reported in H. Ebert, ‘Heat of dissociation according to the electrochemical theory’, Philosophical Magazine, 38 (1894), 332–6.
  • Stoney , G.J. 1891 . On the cause of double lines and of equidistant satellites in the spectra of gases . Scientific Transactions of the Royal Dublin Society , 4 : 563 – 608 .
  • Stoney . 1891 . On the cause of double lines and of equidistant satellites in the spectra of gases . Scientific Transactions of the Royal Dublin Society , 4 : 582 – 583 .
  • Zeeman . 1897 . On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance . Philosophical Magazine , 43 : 234 – 234 .
  • Larmor , J. 1894 . On a dynamical theory of the electric and luminiferous medium . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London , 185 : 719 – 805 . (added 3 August 1894), ‘Introduction of free electrons’, 806–822.
  • Larmor , J. 1895 . On a dynamical theory of the electric and luminiferous medium, Part II: Theory of electrons . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London , 186 : 695 – 743 .
  • Larmor , J. 1897 . ‘On a dynamical theory of the electric and luminiferous medium’, Part III: Relations with material media . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London , 190 : 206 – 300 .
  • Schaffner , K.F. 1972 . Nineteenth-century Aether Theories Oxford
  • Woodruff , A.E. 1981 . Larmor, Joseph . Dictionary of Scientific Biography , 8 : 40 – 40 .
  • Larmor , J. 1990 . Aether and Matter Cambridge
  • On this subject see for example Buchwald J. From Maxwell to Microphysics. Aspects of Electromagnetic Theory in the Last Quarter of the Nineteenth Century Chicago 1985 Schaffner (note 40); Wittaker (note 2).
  • See for example Wittaker A History of the Theories of aether and electricity , 2nd Edn New York 1989
  • Larmor . 1894 . On a dynamical theory of the electric and luminiferous medium . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London , 185 : 765 – 770 .
  • Larmor . 1894 . On a dynamical theory of the electric and luminiferous medium . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London , 185 : 806 – 822 .
  • This argument is fully analysed in Buchwald From Maxwell to Microphysics. Aspects of Electromagnetic Theory in the Last Quarter of the Nineteenth Century Chicago 1985
  • G. J. Stoney to J. Larmor July 1894 29 J. Larmor correspondence, Archives of the Royal Society of London, reproduced by kind permission of the President and Council of the Royal Society of London.
  • Stoney . 1891 . On the cause of double lines and of equidistant satellites in the spectra of gases . Scientific Transactions of the Royal Dublin Society , 4 : 563 – 608 .
  • Larmor . 1990 . Aether and Matter Cambridge
  • Larmor . 1895 . On a dynamical theory of the electric and luminiferous medium, Part II: Theory of electrons . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London , 186 : 695 – 695 .
  • Larmor . 1894 . On a dynamical theory of the electric and luminiferous medium . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London , 185 : 807 – 807 .
  • Larmor . 1894 . On a dynamical theory of the electric and luminiferous medium . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London , 185 : 807 – 807 .
  • Lodge , O.J. 1897 . The latest discovery in Physics . The Electrician , 38 : 568 – 570 . ‘The history of Zeeman's discovery, and its reception in England’, Nature, 109 (1922), 66–9; ‘States of mind which make and miss discoveries, with some ideas about metals’, The Journal of the Institute of Metals, XLI (1929), 345–76; J. Larmor, ‘On the theory of the magnetic influence on spectra; and on the radiation from moving ions’, Mathematical and Physical Papers (Cambridge 1929), II, 140.
  • The news of Zeeman's discovery is contained in the report of researches undertaken in Amsterdam at the Royal Academy of Sciences dated 31 October 1896, and published in Nature 1896 55 192 192 This report begins with the following: ‘Prof. Kamerlingh Onnes communicated two papers: (a) by Dr Zeeman, on the influence of a magnetisation on the nature of the light emitted by a substance. Pursuing a hint given by Faraday, several experiments were tried. The principal was this: the light of the electric arc, being sent through a heated tube containing sodium vapour, is analysed by a Rowland's grating. The tube is placed between the poles of an electro-magnet. When acted on by the magnet, a slight broadening of the two sodium lines is seen, tending to show that forced vibrations are produced in the atoms by the action of magnetism.’
  • Lodge . 1922 . The latest discovery in Physics . The Electrician , 38
  • O. J. Lodge to J. Larmor, Liverpool O. J. Lodge correspondence, Archives of the Royal Society of London, reproduced by kind permission of the President and Council of the Royal Society of London 1896 December 29
  • Zeeman . 1897 . On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance . Philosophical Magazine , 43 : 226 – 239 . and 20
  • O. J. Lodge to J. Larmor, Liverpool O. J. Lodge correspondence, Archives of the Royal Society of London, reproduced by kind permission of the President and Council of the Royal Society of London 1897 February 6
  • Lodge , O.J. 1897 . The influence of a magnetic field on radiation frequency . Proceedings of the Royal Society of London , 60 : 513 – 514 .
  • The prediction of the state of polarization was here verified only in respect of the plane polarization. The circular polarization was verified later and immediately communicated to Rucker: O. J. Lodge to A. W. Rucker, Liverpool O. J. Lodge correspondence, Archives of the Royal Society of London, reproduced by kind permission of the President and Council of the Royal Society of London 1897 February 12
  • See Nature 1896 55 192 192
  • Zeeman . 1897 . The effect of magnetisation on the nature of light emitted by a substance . Nature , 55 : 347 – 347 .
  • Lodge . 1922 . The latest discovery in Physics . The Electrician , 38
  • Zeeman . 1897 . On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance . Philosophical Magazine , 43 : 223 – 223 .
  • Lodge . 1897 . The latest discovery in Physics . The Electrician , 38
  • Notes The Electrician 1897 38 563 563
  • Zeeman . 1897 . The effect of magnetisation on the nature of light emitted by a substance . Nature , 55 : 347 – 347 .
  • Lodge , O.J. 1897 . The latest discovery in Physics . The Electrician , 38 : 569 – 569 .
  • 1897 . Year Book of the Royal Society , : 98 – 98 . 119
  • Lodge . 1922 . The latest discovery in Physics . The Electrician , 38 : 350 – 350 .
  • O. J. Lodge to J. Larmor, Liverpool O. J. Lodge correspondence, Archives of the Royal Society of London, reproduced by kind permission of the President and Council of the Royal Society of London 1897 February 6
  • Larmor , J. 1897 . The influence of a magnetic field on radiation frequency . Proceedings of the Royal Society of London , 60 : 514 – 515 .
  • Larmor . February 1897 . O. J. Lodge correspondence, Archives of the Royal Society of London, reproduced by kind permission of the President and Council of the Royal Society of London February , 514 – 514 . O. J. Lodge to J. Larmor, Liverpool 6
  • This statement is reported by Lodge O.J. A few notes on Zeeman's discovery The Electrician 1897 38 643 643
  • Lodge . 1897 . A few notes on Zeeman's discovery . The Electrician , 38 : 643 – 643 .
  • Lodge . 1897 . A few notes on Zeeman's discovery . The Electrician , 38 : 643 – 643 .
  • Thomson , J.J. 1881 . On the electric and magnetic effects produced by the motion of electrified bodies . Philosophical Magazine , 11 : 229 – 229 .
  • On the subject see, for example Jammer M. Concepts of Force. A Study in the Foundation of Dynamics Harvard University Press Cambridge, MA 1957
  • Miller , A.J. 1981 . Einstein's special theory of relativity Addison Wesley
  • Lodge . 1897 . A few notes on Zeeman's discovery . The Electrician , 38 : 643 – 643 .
  • O. J. Lodge to J. Larmor, Liverpool O. J. Lodge correspondence, Archives of the Royal Society of London, reproduced by kind permission of the President and Council of the Royal Society of London 1897 March 8
  • Larmor , J. 1897 . On the theory of the magnetic influence on spectra and on the radiation from moving ions . Philosophical Magazine , 44 : 503 – 512 .
  • Stoney . 1891 . On the cause of double lines and of equidistant satellites in the spectra of gases . Scientific Transactions of the Royal Dublin Society , 4 : 563 – 608 .
  • Warwick , A. 1993 . Frequency, theorem and formula: remembering Joseph Larmor in electromagnetic theory . Notes and Records of the Royal Society , 47 : 49 – 60 .
  • Larmor . 1897 . On the theory of the magnetic influence on spectra and on the radiation from moving ions . Philosophical Magazine , 44 : 506 – 506 .
  • Larmor . 1897 . On the theory of the magnetic influence on spectra and on the radiation from moving ions . Philosophical Magazine , 44 : 506 – 506 .
  • Kragh . 1989 . Concept and controversy: Jean Becquerel and the positive electron . Centaurus , 32
  • Lodge , O.J. 1897 . A few notes on Zeeman's discovery . The Electrician , 38 : 643 – 643 .
  • Zeeman . 1897 . Doublets and triplets in the spectrum produced by external magnetic forces . Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science , 44 : 55 – 60 .
  • Larmor . 1897 . On the theory of the magnetic influence on spectra and on the radiation from moving ions . Philosophical Magazine , 44 : 506 – 506 .
  • G. J. Stoney to J. Larmor J. Larmor correspondence, Archives of the Royal Society of London, reproduced by kind permission of the President and Council of the Royal Society of London 1897 December 1
  • Michelson , A.A. 1897 . Radiation in a magnetic field . Philosophical Magazine , 44 : 109 – 109 .
  • Michelson . December 1897 . J. Larmor correspondence, Archives of the Royal Society of London, reproduced by kind permission of the President and Council of the Royal Society of London December , 110 – 110 . 1
  • Michelson . December 1897 . J. Larmor correspondence, Archives of the Royal Society of London, reproduced by kind permission of the President and Council of the Royal Society of London December , 112 – 112 . 1
  • Michelson . December 1897 . J. Larmor correspondence, Archives of the Royal Society of London, reproduced by kind permission of the President and Council of the Royal Society of London December , 115 – 115 . 1
  • Cornu , A. 1898 . Sur quelques résultats nouveaux relatifs au phénomène découvert par M. le Dr Zeeman . Comptes Rendus , 127 : 184 – 184 .
  • Cornu , A. 1898 . Sur quelques résultats nouveaux relatifs au phénomène découvert par M. le Dr Zeeman . Comptes Rendus , 127 : 184 – 184 .
  • Cornu , A. 1898 . Sur quelques résultats nouveaux relatifs au phénomène découvert par M. le Dr Zeeman . Comptes Rendus , 127 : 184 – 184 .
  • Michelson , A.A. 1898 . Radiation in a magnetic field . Philosophical Magazine , 45 : 348 – 348 .
  • Preston , T. 1898 . Radiation in the magnetic field . Philosophical Magazine , 45 : 325 – 338 .
  • Preston , T. 1898 . Radiation phenomena in a strong magnetic field . Scientific Transactions of the Royal Dublin Society , 6 : 385 – 391 . Preston uses a spark to produce the spectrum.
  • Preston . 1898 . Radiation in the magnetic field . Philosophical Magazine , 45 : 331 – 331 .
  • Preston , T. 1899 . Radiation phenomena in the magnetic field. Magnetic perturbation of the spectral lines . Philosophical Magazine , 47 : 165 – 178 .
  • Preston , T. 1899 . Radiation phenomena in the magnetic field. Magnetic perturbation of the spectral lines . Philosophical Magazine , 47 : 171 – 171 .
  • Preston , T. 1899 . Radiation phenomena in the magnetic field. Magnetic perturbation of the spectral lines . Philosophical Magazine , 47 : 176 – 176 .
  • Lorentz , H.A. 1900 . “ Théorie des phénomènes magnéto-optiques récemment découverts ” . In Rapports présentés au Congrès International de Physique Vol. 3 , 6 – 6 . Paris
  • 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 , H.A. 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 in 1936
  • On this subject see Carazza B. Robotti N. The first molecular models for an electromagnetic theory of dispersion and some aspects of physics at the end of the XIX century Annals of Science 1996 53 587 607
  • 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 in 1936
  • Thomson , J.J. 1897 . Cathode rays . The Electrician , May : 104 – 111 . 21 idem, ‘Cathode rays’, Philosophical Magazine, 44 (1897), 293–316.
  • On this subject see bibliography in The Discovery of the Electron Princeton 1964
  • Thomson . 1897 . Cathode rays . The Electrician , May : 111 – 111 . 21
  • Thomson . 1981 . “ Zeeman, Pieter ” . In Dictionary of Scientific Biography 597 – 599 . New York
  • Thomson . 1899 . On the existence of masses smaller than the atoms . Philosophical Magazine , 48 : 548 – 548 . Report of the Sixty-ninth meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, Dover, September 1899
  • Lorentz . 1898 . “ Optical phenomena connected with the charge and mass of the ions ” . In Collected Papers Edited by: Lorentz , H.A. Vol. III , 2 – 2 . The Hague in 1936
  • On the subsequent developments of the concept of the electron mass, see Warwick A. On the role of the FitzGerald-Lorentz contraction hypothesis in the development of Joseph Larmor's electronic theory of matter Archives for the History of Exact Sciences 1991 43 29 91

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