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"RITTER, (JOHANN W.). - THE DISCOVERY OF ""CHEMICAL RAYS"" - ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT AND RADIATION.
Reference : 43492
(1801)
Announcing his discovery of ultraviolet light ""Von den Herren Ritter und Bückmann. - - Am 22sten Febr. habe ich auch auf der Seite des Violetts im Farbespectrum, ausserhalb desselben, Sonnenstrahlen angetroffen....
Halle, Rengerschen Buchhandlung, 1801. Without wrappers as published in ""Annalen der Physik. Herausgegeben von Ludwig Wilhelm Gilbert"", Bd. 7, Viertes Stück. The entire issue offered (=Heft 4). Pp. 387-528. Ritter's announcement p. 525. With titlepage to volume 7. Clean and fine. Titlepage a bit shavedin inner margin.
First printing of Ritter's announcement of his discovery of ultraviolet light in a halfpage letter addressed to Gilbert's Annalen. With that discovery, it became clear that visible light represents no more than a fraction of a continous spectrum.A year earlier, in 1800, William Herschel discovered infrared light. This was the first time that a form of light beyond visible light had been detected. After hearing about Herschel's discovery of an invisible form of light beyond the red portion of the spectrum, Ritter decided to conduct experiments to determine if invisible light existed beyond the violet end of the spectrum as well. He had heard that blue light caused a greater reaction in silver chloride than red light did. Ritter decided to measure the rate at which silver chloride reacted to the different colors of light. He directed sunlight through a glass prism to create a spectrum. He then placed silver chloride in each color of the spectrum and found that it showed little change in the red part of the spectrum, but darkened toward the violet end of the spectrum. Johann Ritter then decided to place silver chloride in the area just beyond the violet end of the spectrum, in a region where no sunlight was visible. To his amazement, this region showed the most intense reaction of all. This showed for the first time that an invisible form of light existed beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum. This new type of light, which Ritter called Chemical Rays, later became known as ultraviolet light or ultraviolet radiation (the word ultra means beyond). - Parkinson, Breakthroughs: 1801 P.
Versuche über das Sonnenlicht.
Halle, Rengerschen Buchhandlung, 1803. Without wrappers as extracted from ""Annalen der Physik. Herausgegeben von Ludwig Wilhelm Gilbert"", Jahrgang 1802, Bd. 12, Zwölftes Stück. Pp. 409-416. Titlepage to vol. 12.
This is Ritter's first expositon of his discovery of ultraviolet light. It was announced the year before in a halfpage letter addressed to Gilbert's Annalen and printed in the Annalen. With that discovery, it became clear that visible light represents no more than a fraction of a continous spectrum.A year earlier, in 1800, William Herschel discovered infrared light. This was the first time that a form of light beyond visible light had been detected. After hearing about Herschel's discovery of an invisible form of light beyond the red portion of the spectrum, Ritter decided to conduct experiments to determine if invisible light existed beyond the violet end of the spectrum as well. He had heard that blue light caused a greater reaction in silver chloride than red light did. Ritter decided to measure the rate at which silver chloride reacted to the different colors of light. He directed sunlight through a glass prism to create a spectrum. He then placed silver chloride in each color of the spectrum and found that it showed little change in the red part of the spectrum, but darkened toward the violet end of the spectrum. Johann Ritter then decided to place silver chloride in the area just beyond the violet end of the spectrum, in a region where no sunlight was visible. To his amazement, this region showed the most intense reaction of all. This showed for the first time that an invisible form of light existed beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum. This new type of light, which Ritter called Chemical Rays, later became known as ultraviolet light or ultraviolet radiation (the word ultra means beyond).
"YOUNG, THOMAS. - THE DISCOVERIES OF THE INTERFERENCE OF LIGHT - GERMAN EDITIONS.
Reference : 44092
(1811)
Ueber die Theorie des Lichts. Frei übersetzt vom Professor Lüdicke. (+) Nachricht von einigen Fällen einer bisher noch nicht beschriebenen Entstehung der Farben. (+) Beschreibung einer Vorrichtung, um mittelst des Sonnen-Mikroskops die Farben dünner F...
Leipzig, Johann Ambrosius Barth, 1811. Without wrappers. In: ""Annalen der Physik. Hrsg. Ludwig Wilhelm Gilbert"", Bd. 39 (der Reihe), Eilftes u. Zwölftes Stück. Titlepage to vol. 39. Pp. 129-244 a. 2 engraved plates. (The entire issue offered). Young's papers: pp. 156-205 a. pp. 206-220. And pp. 245-360 a. 2 engraved plates. (The entire issue offered). Young's papers: pp. 255-261 a. pp. 262-290.
First appearance in German of Youngs 3 groundbreaking papers ( On the Theory of Light and Colours 1802 - An account of some Cases of the Production of Colours not hitherto described 1802 - The Bakerian Lecture. Experiments and Calculations relative to physical Optics. 1804) - which gives the first really convincing evidence that the fringes are produced by interference of light waves, and giving the experimental demonstrations of the general law of Interference.These importent demonstrations served as the experimental basis for the wave hypothesis of light. - In his two first papers ""On the Theory of Light and Colours"", 1802 and ""An account of Some Cases of the Production of Colours not hitherto described"", 1802 - he only partially announced his principle of Interference, and the statement of it in ""An Account..."" was entirely hypothetical and not experimental. (Magie. Source Book in Physics gives extracts of this paper and a later paper under the head: Discovery of the interference of light, pp.308-15).Young also shows here that diffraction effects can be explained by the interference law.""The experimental basis for the wave hypothesis of light as Young formulated it was interference. The fact has already been observed that two trauins of water waves may be so superposed that in certain regions the throughs of one train will lie continuously on the crests of another, thereby producing zero disturbance...Destryctive interference is said to occur between the two trains of waves in the former case and constructivee interference in lthe latter. Similarly, two sound waves may be so combined as to produce alternate regions of silence and enhanced sound. The phenomenon of interference, of which the forgoing are familiar examples, is easely comprehensible in the case of combining waves, but would be utterly incomprehensible in the case of combining streams of particles. So when Young demonstrated that two beams of light could, under properly controlled conditions be made to combine in such a way as to produce alternate regions of darkness and light, he was rightly considered to have identified in light a characteristic property of waves."" (Lloyd Taylor in: Physics. The Pioneer Science. p. 511).Of the three papers published in the years 1802-04 the last is the most importent as it gives the experimental demonstrations of the interference of light. (Dibner in Heralds of Science No. 151 list the first paper, so does PMM: 259).
"FIZEAU, ARMAND HIPPOLYTE & JEAN BERNARD LÉON FOUCAULT. - CONFIRMING THE WAVE THEORY OF LIGHT.
Reference : 43827
(1849)
Sur les phénomène des interférences entre deux rayons de lumiere dans le cas de grandes differences de marche. (+) Sur les phénomène des interférences entre deux rayons de lumiere dans le cas de grandes differences de marche, et sur la polarisation ch...
Paris, Victor Masson, Imprimerie de Bachelier, 1849-50. No wrappers. In ""Annales de Chimie et de Physique"", 3me Series - Tome XXVI a. XXX., Juin 1849 a. Octobre 1850. (The entire issues offered). Titlepages to vol. 26 a. 30. Pp. 129-256 a. pp. 129-256. Fizeau & Foucault's paper: pp. 138-148 a. pp. 146-159, 2 folded engraved plates. Some scattred brownspots.
First appearance of thispaper in which the authors demonstrated importent similarities between sound - and lightwaves, and that interference takes place between rays of light of different wavelenghts thus giving considerably evidence for the wave theory of light.""By analyzing the white light source into simpler constituents by means of a spectroscope, Fizeau and Foucault were able to observe fringes produced by interfering light rays with a difference of travel equal to more than 7,000 wavelenghts, thus showing hat light waves, like sound waves, remain geometrically constant over a large number of periods. But light waves, because of their transverse vibrations, are more complex than sound waves. Light can assume different forms of planes of vibration as well as different intensities. Using the same spectroscopic apparatus as in the preceeding experiment, Fizeau and Foucault observed the interaction of two rays produced by passing a single polarized ray through a birefringent crystal. In this case, instead of obtaining alternating bands of light and dark, they obtained bands of light periodcally polarized in different planes of vibration.""(DSB V, p. 19).
"FIZEAU, H. (ARMAND HIPPOLYTE). - THE FIRST TERRESTRIAL MEASUREMENT OF THE VELOCITY OF LIGHT.
Reference : 49457
(1849)
Sur une expérience relative à la vitesse de propagation de la lumière. (Séance du Lundi 23 Juillet 1849).
Paris, Bachelier, 1849. 4to. No wrappers. In ""Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie des sciences"", Vol. 29, No 4. With htitle a. titlepage to vol. 29. Pp. 65-96 (entire issue offered). Fizeau's paper: pp. 90-92. Stamps on title-page. Clean and fine.
First printing of the paper in which Fizeau describes how he produced the first terrestrial measurement of the speed of light, using a rapidly rotating toothed wheel to break a light signal into continuous pulses whose speed could then be estimated. That was the most accurate measurement to-date of the speed of light. This method was later used by Albert Michelson.""Fizeau was not satisfied merely with determining the relative velocities of light. He wanted to measure with some precision the absolute velocity. In 1849 he had conceived an ingenious mechanism that would enable him to achieve his goal: a large toothed wheel was spun rapidly about its axis, and a beam of light sent through the spaces between the teeth was reflected back to its source by a fixed mirror. When the wheel was rotated rapidly enough, the intermittent light rays returning from the mirror intersected the path of the teeth and thus became invisible to the observer stationed behind the wheel. As the mechanism was turned faster and faster, the light reappeared and disappeared alternately. The time required for the light to travel through the carefully measured distance was a simple function of the angular displacement of the wheel.In 1849 Fizeau made a trial of his new method between his father’s house at Suresnes and Montmartre. The figure he obtained for the speed of light (about 315,000 kilometers per second) was not quite as accurate as the results of astronomical calculations, but the practicability of the method was established and became the basis of the more precise determinations made by Alfred Cornu in the 1870’s."" (DSB).Parkinson ""Breakthroughs"" 1849 P.
"LORENZ, L. (LUDWIG VALENTIN) - LIGHT IS IDENTICAL WITH ELECTROMECANICAL WAVES.
Reference : 55371
(1867)
Om Identiteten af Lyssvingninger og elektriske Stømme. (On the Identity of the Vibrations of Light with electrical Currents).
(København, 1867). Contemp. marbled clothbacked boards. Titlelabel with gilt lettering on upper cover. Pp. 26-45. Extracted from ""Oversigt over det Kgl. danskeVidenskabernes Selskabs Forhandlinger 1867, Nr. 1"".
Extremely scarce first edition of the paper in which Lorenz, independent of Maxwell, stated that light is electromechanical in nature, probably inspired by his former teacher H. C. Oersted, the discoverer of electromagnetism and professor at the Polytechnic College, he aimed at unifying the forces of nature without introducing new physical hypotheses. ""The idea that the various forces in nature are merely different manifestations of the one and same force has proved itself more fertile than all physical theories"".Most impressive of all Lorenz’ achievements in optics is his electromagnetic theory of light, developed in a relatively unknown paper of 1867, two years after Maxwell’s famous paper on the same subject. At that time Lorenz did not know Maxwell’s theory, and his own approach was quite different. Lorenz’ electromagnetic theory of light can be described briefly as an interpretation of the light vector as the current density vector in a medium obeying Ohm’s law. This paper contains the fundamental equations for the vector potential and the scalar potential or - for the first time - the corresponding retarded potentials expressed in terms of the current density vector and the electrical charge density. The concept of retarded potentials had already been introduced in an earlier paper by Lorenz in connection with research on the theory of elasticity. He found that the differential equation for the current density vector was the same as his fundamental wave equation for the light vector, completed with a term which explains the absorption of light in conducting media, and that his theory led to the correct value for the velocity of light."" (Mogens Pihl in DSB).The paper was published in English, 1867 ""On the identity of the vibrations of light with electrical currents."" (Philosophical Magazine 34: 287-301) and also in German in ""Annalen der Physik""
FIZEAU, ARMAND HIPPOLYTE - THE FIZEAU EXPERIMENT ON THE VELOCITY OF LIGHT IN MEDIA.
Reference : 43122
(1859)
Sur les Hypothèses relatives a Lèther lumineux. Et sur une expérience qui parait démontrer que le mouvement des corps change la vitesse avec laquelle la lumiere se propage dans leur interieur" Presenté à l'Academie des Sciences dans sa séance du 29 se...
Paris, Victor Masson, Imprimerie de Bachelier, 1859. 8vo. Contemp. hcalf, raised bands, gilt spine. Light wear along edges. Small stamps on verso of titlepage and on verso of plates. In ""Annales de Chimie et de Physique"", 3me Series - Tome LVII. 512 pp. and 4 plates. (The entire volume offered). Fizeau's paper: pp. 385-404. Some scattered brownspots.
First printing of a highly importent paper in the history of physics, ""It is less famous, for some reason, than the failure of Michelson and Morley to detect the aether drag, but NO LESS SIGNIFICANT. For it showed that the velocity of light increases in a medium according to the formula, v (1 - 1/n2), where v is the velocity of the medium, and n is the refractive index""(Gillespie in ""The Edge of Objecticity"" p. 427). Fizeau shows that the velocity of light is higher in water flowing in the direction of the beam than that of light propagating in the direction opposite the direction of flow. The paper offered is the full text of the research, there appeared an extract of it in Comptes Rendus in 1851. Albert Einstein later pointed out the IMPORTENCE OF THE EXPERIMENT FOR SPECIAL RELATIVITY.Fizeau's result was replicated by Albert Michelson and Edward Morley in 1886 repeated the experiment on a larger scale and confirmed Fizeau's results., and in 1914 it was confirmed by Pieter Zeeman. It was Arago in 1838, who suggested this ""crucial experiment"" to decide between the corpuscular and undulatory theories of light by comparingthe speed of light in water and in air.. It vindicated the undulatory position.It was shown by Hendrik Lorentz (1892, 1895) that the experiment can be explained by the reaction of the moving water upon the interfering waves without the need of any aether entrainment. On this occasion, Lorentz introduced a different time coordinate for moving bodies within the aether, the so called Local time (an early form of the Lorentz transformation for small velocities compared to the speed of light). In 1895, Lorentz went a step further and explained the coefficient by local time alone and without mentioning any interaction of light and matter.
FIZEAU, ARMAND HIPPOLYTE - ANNOUNCING FIZEAU EXPERIMENT ON THE VELOCITY OF LIGHT IN MEDIA.
Reference : 47033
(1851)
Sur les Hypothèses relatives a Lèther lumineux. Et sur une expérience qui parait démontrer que le mouvement des corps change la vitesse avec laquelle la lumiere se propage dans leur interieur" (Extrait par l'auteur). (The Hypotheses Relating to the Lu...
Paris, Bachelier, 1851. 4to. No wrappers. In: ""Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de L'Academie des Sciences"", Tome 33, No 13. With htitle and titlepage to tome 33. Pp. 329-360 (entire issue offered). Fizeau's paper: pp. 349-355. A stamp on erso of titlepage. Titlepage with faint brownspots.
First appearance of this paper, the first announcment of Fizeau's results of his experiments with the velocity of light.""It (the paper) is less famous, for some reason, than the failure of Michelson and Morley to detect the aether drag, but NO LESS SIGNIFICANT. For it showed that the velocity of light increases in a medium according to the formula, v (1 - 1/n2), where v is the velocity of the medium, and n is the refractive index""(Gillespie in ""The Edge of Objecticity"" p. 427). Fizeau shows that the velocity of light is higher in water flowing in the direction of the beam than that of light propagating in the direction opposite the direction of flow. The paper offered is the shorter announcement of the research, the paper in full was published later in 1859 in ""Annales de Chimie et de Physique"". Albert Einstein later pointed out the IMPORTENCE OF THE EXPERIMENT FOR SPECIAL RELATIVITY.Fizeau's result was replicated by Albert Michelson and Edward Morley in 1886 repeated the experiment on a larger scale and confirmed Fizeau's results., and in 1914 it was confirmed by Pieter Zeeman. It was Arago in 1838, who suggested this ""crucial experiment"" to decide between the corpuscular and undulatory theories of light by comparing the speed of light in water and in air.. It vindicated the undulatory position.It was shown by Hendrik Lorentz (1892, 1895) that the experiment can be explained by the reaction of the moving water upon the interfering waves without the need of any aether entrainment. On this occasion, Lorentz introduced a different time coordinate for moving bodies within the aether, the so called Local time (an early form of the Lorentz transformation for small velocities compared to the speed of light). In 1895, Lorentz went a step further and explained the coefficient by local time alone and without mentioning any interaction of light and matter.
FIZEAU, ARMAND HIPPOLYTE - ANNOUNCING FIZEAU EXPERIMENT ON THE VELOCITY OF LIGHT IN MEDIA.
Reference : 49596
(1851)
Sur les Hypothèses relatives a Lèther lumineux. Et sur une expérience qui parait démontrer que le mouvement des corps change la vitesse avec laquelle la lumiere se propage dans leur interieur" (Extrait par l'auteur). (The Hypotheses Relating to the Lu...
Paris, Bachelier, 1851. 4to. No wrappers. In: ""Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de L'Academie des Sciences"", Tome 33, No 13. With htitle and titlepage to tome 33. Pp. (329-) 360 (entire issue offered). Fizeau's paper: pp. 349-355. A stamp on upper right corner of title-page and a perforated stamp in lower margin of title-page. Clean and fine.
First appearance of this paper, the first announcment of Fizeau's results of his experiments with the velocity of light.""It (the paper) is less famous, for some reason, than the failure of Michelson and Morley to detect the aether drag, but NO LESS SIGNIFICANT. For it showed that the velocity of light increases in a medium according to the formula, v (1 - 1/n2), where v is the velocity of the medium, and n is the refractive index""(Gillespie in ""The Edge of Objecticity"" p. 427). Fizeau shows that the velocity of light is higher in water flowing in the direction of the beam than that of light propagating in the direction opposite the direction of flow. The paper offered is the shorter announcement of the research, the paper in full was published later in 1859 in ""Annales de Chimie et de Physique"". Albert Einstein later pointed out the IMPORTENCE OF THE EXPERIMENT FOR SPECIAL RELATIVITY.Fizeau's result was replicated by Albert Michelson and Edward Morley in 1886 repeated the experiment on a larger scale and confirmed Fizeau's results., and in 1914 it was confirmed by Pieter Zeeman. It was Arago in 1838, who suggested this ""crucial experiment"" to decide between the corpuscular and undulatory theories of light by comparing the speed of light in water and in air.. It vindicated the undulatory position.It was shown by Hendrik Lorentz (1892, 1895) that the experiment can be explained by the reaction of the moving water upon the interfering waves without the need of any aether entrainment. On this occasion, Lorentz introduced a different time coordinate for moving bodies within the aether, the so called Local time (an early form of the Lorentz transformation for small velocities compared to the speed of light). In 1895, Lorentz went a step further and explained the coefficient by local time alone and without mentioning any interaction of light and matter.
FOUCAULT, LÉON. (JEAN BERNARD LEON). - THE VELOCITY OF LIGHT DETERMINED.
Reference : 49458
(1862)
Détermination expérimentale de la vitesse de la lumière parallaxe du Soleil. (Séance du Lundi 22 septembre 1862). (+) Détermination expérimentale de la vitesse de la lumière" description des appareils. (Séance du Lundi 24 Novembre 1862). (2 papers).
Paris, Mallet-Bachelier, 1862. 4to. No wrappers. In: ""Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’Académie des sciences"", Vol. 55, No 12 a. 21. Pp. 481--519 a. pp. 781-803. (Entire issues offered). With title-page to vol. 55. Foucault's papers: pp. 501-503 a. pp. 792-796. Clean and fine.
First printing of Foucault's famous experiments on the velocity of light with the description of his improved equipment, the rotating mirror. Foucault's method was later developed by Michelson and Morley in their famous experiment in 1887.""Foucault’s first experiment, carried out in 1850 and written up in full in his doctoral thesis of 1853, was purely comparative"" he announced no numerical values until 1862. Then, with an improved apparatus, he was able to measure precisely the velocity of light in air. This result, significantly smaller than Fizeau’s of 1849, changed the accepted value of solar parallax and vindicated the higher value which Le Verrier had calculated from astronomical data. Foucault’s turning-mirror apparatus was the basis for the later determinations of the velocity of light by A. A. Michelson and Simon Newcomb.""(DSB).Leon Foucault, used a similar method to Fizeau. He shone a light to a rotating mirror, then it bounced back to a remote fixed mirror and then back to the first rotating mirror. But because the first mirror was rotating, the light from the rotating mirror finally bounced back at an angle slightly different from the angle it initially hit the mirror with. By measuring this angle, it was possible to measure the speed of the light. Foucault continually increased the accuracy of this method over the years. His final measurement in 1862 determined that light traveled at 299,796 Km/s. Magee ""A Source Book in Physics"", p. 342 ff. and ""Source Book in Astronomy"", p. 282 ff.
"FRESNEL, AUGUSTIN ( ARAGO, AMPÉRE, BIOT, FOURIER). - THE FINAL DOWNFALL OF THE CORPUSCULAR THEORY OF LIGHT.
Reference : 44516
(1816)
Mémoire sur la Diffraction de la lumière, où l'on examine particululièrement le phénomène des franges colorées que présentent les ombres des corps éclairés par un point lumineux. - Extrait d'une Lettre de M. Fresnel à M. Arago, sur l'influence de ...
Paris, Crochard, 1816-25. Bound in 2 fine recent hmorocco. In: ""Annales de Chimie et de Physique, Redigées par MM. Gay-Lussac et Arago"", Tome I, IV, IX, X, XI, XV, XVII, XX, XXI, XXIII, XXVIII and XXIX. Some memoirs with scattered brownspots. All but volume 15 with the orig. titlepages to the volumes. Vol. XV having instead of the titlepage, a sample of the orig. printed wrappers, December issue 1820. Bound at end of volume 2. The memoir, no. 25a below is inserted at the end of volume 2. Some of the memoirs having textillustrations. Some versos of titlepages with stamps.
First appearances of this groundbreaking series of papers and memoirs in which Fresnel established the scientific basis for the wave theory of light and gave the theoretical framework for explaining, in the context of his theory of the transversal nature of lightwaves, the phenomena of double refraction, refraction, dispersion, polarization, interference, diffraction patterns, diffraction fringes as light spreads around objects, etc. He developed mathematically the hypothesis of the wave nature of light and he demonstrates its conformity with experience. His study of light was a dynamic interplay between theory and observation, between mathematics and experiment. - The offered series also comprises the contributions from Arago and the rapports from The French Academy's committees by Ampère, Biot and Fourier - see below nos. 6,11,14,15,a.nd 18.""From the point of view of method, his investigations extended from the manual operations of the laboratory to the most abstract mathematical analyses. Few physicists since Newton had been so versatile.""(Silliman in ""Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences"", vol. 4, p. 155.).""The wave-thory at this time was still encumbered with difficulties. Diffraction was not satisfactorily explained" for polarization no explanation of any kind was forthcoming the Huygenian construction appeared to require two different luminiferous media within double refracting bodies and the universality of that construction had been impugned by Brewster's discovery of biaxial crystals. The upholders of the emission theory, emboldened by the success of Laplace's theory of double refraction, thought the time ripe for their final triunph and as a step to this, in March 1817 they proposed Diffration as the subject of the Academy's prize for 1818. Their expectation was disappointed" and the successful memoir afforded the first of a series of reverses of which, in the short space of seven years, the corpuscular theory was completely owerthrown. The author was Augustin Fresnel...""(Whittaker ""A History of the Theories of Aether & Electricity"", vol. 1, p.107 ff.).""This concept of transverse waves met with the greatest hostility from the scientists of the day, who could not imagine an extremely fluid and rarified ether which at the same time possessed the mechanical properties of a rigid body. Even Arago admitted that he could not follow the exuberant engineer in his ideas. ButFresnel was convinced that at last he had the key to many mysteries, and with his model of waves he gave a full clarification of the phenomena of polarization. With insuperable precision he explained a long series of extremely complicated experiments, such as those of chromatic polarization that Arago himself had discovered by chance in 1811, and which the followers of Newton could not explain in spite of all their efforts. Following this line Fresnel reached the synthesis which is his masterpiece....we must recall the final interpretation that he gave of the famous phenomenon of partial reflection by transparent surfaces, that simple phenomenon which until then had puzzled Grimaldi, Newton, and Huygens, and which in Malus's experiments had unexpectedly acquired a special importencee as it had been compared to the great mystery of double refraction.""(Ronchi ""The Nature of Light"", p. 255 ff.).Comprising:1. Mémoire sur la Diffraction de la lumière, où l'on examine particululièrement le phénomène des franges colorées que présentent les ombres des corps éclairés par un point lumineux. ""Ann.Chim.P."" Tome 1. 1816. With titlepage to vol. 1. Pp. 239-281 and 1 folded engraved plate.2. Extrait d'une Lettre de M. Fresnel à M. Arago, sur l'influence de la chaleur dans les couleurs développées par la polarisation.Tome 4. 1817. With titlepage to vol. 4. Pp. 298-300.3. Lettre de M. Fresnel à M. Arago, sur l'influence du mouvement terrestres dans quelques phénomènes terrestres dans quelques phénoménes d'optique. Tome 9. 1818. With titlepage to vol. 18. Pp. 57-70.4. Note additionelle à la Lettre de M. Fresnel à M. Arago, insérée dans le dernier Cahier des Annales. Tome 9. 1818. Pp. 286-287.5. FRESNEL & ARAGO. Sur l'Action que le rayons de lumiére polarisés exercent les uns sur les autres. Tome 10. 1819. With titlepage to vol. 10. Pp. 288-305. - Also with ""Extrait d'un ouvrage du P. Grimaldi intitulé: Traité physico-mathérmatique de la lumiere des couleurs et de l'iris"". Pp. 306-312.6. ARAGO. Rapport par M. Arago à l'Academie des Sciences, au nom de la Commission qui avait été chargée d'examiner les Mémoires envoyés au concours pour le prix de la diffraction. Tome 11. 1819. With titlepage to vol. 11. Pp. 5-30.7. Mémoire sur la Diffraction de la Lumiere. (Extrait). (This importent Price-Memoir was only printed in full in 1826). Tome 11. 1819. Pp. 246-296.8. Suite Du Mémoire sur la Diffraction de la Lumière. Tome 11. 1819. Pp. 337-378. + Note sur des Essais ayant pour but de décomposer l'eau avec un aimant. Pp. 219-222.9. Note sur des Essais ayant pour but de décomposer l'eau avec un aimant. Tome 15. 1820. Pp. 219-222. No titlepage to vol. 15.10. Résume d'un Mémoire sur la Reflexion de la lumière. Tome 15. 1820. Pp. 379-386. Tome 15 is here represented with the last issue of the year (Decembre 1820, pp. 337-448) and instead of the titlepage having the orig. printed wrappers (bound at end of the second volume).11. ARAGO & AMPÈRE. Rapport fait à l'Academie des Sciences, le lundi 4 juin 1821, sur un Mémoire de M. Fresnel relatif aux couleurs des lames cristallisées douées de la double réfraction. Tome 17. 1821. Titlepage to vol. 17. Pp. 80-102.12. Note sur le Calcul des teintes que la polarisation développe dans les lames cristallisées. Tome 17. 1821. Pp. 102-111.13. IIe Note sur la Coloration des lames cristallisées. Tome 17. 1821. Pp. (167-)196.14. BIOT. Remarques de M. Biot sur un Rapport lu, le 4 juin 1821, à l'Academie des Sciences, par MM. Arago et Ampere. Tome 17. 1821. Pp. 225-258.15. ARAGO. Examen des Remarques de M. Biot. Tome 17. 1821. Pp. 258-273. 16. Addition à la IIe Note insérée dans le Cahier précédent, par M. Fresnel. Tome 17. 1821. Pp. 312-315.17. Note sur les remarques de M. Biot, publiées dans le Cahier précédent. Tome 17. 1821. Pp. 393-403.18. FOURIER, AMPÈRE ET ARAGO. Rapport fait à l'Academie sur un Mémoire de M. Fresnel, relatif à la double réfraction. Commission: Fourier, Ampère et Arago. Tome 20, 1822. With titlepage to vol. 20. Pp. 337-344.19. Note sur la double réfraction du verre comprimé. Tome 20. 1822. Pp. 376-383.20. Explication de la Réfraction dans le système des ondes. Tome 21, 1822. Titlepage to vol. 21. Pp. 225-241. + LAGRANGE. Sur la Théorie de la lumière d'Huygens. Pp. 241-246.21. Sur l'Ascension des nuages dans l'atmosphère. Tome 21, 1822. Pp. 260-263.22. Réponse de M. Fresnel à la Lettre de M. Poisson insérée dans le tome XXII des Annales, p. 270. Tome 23, 1823. Titlepage to vol. 23. Pp. 32-49.23. Note sur le Phénomène des anneaux colorés. Tome 23, 1823. Pp. 129-134.24. Suite de la Réponse de M.A. Fresnel à la Lettre de M. Poisson. Tome 23, 1823. Pp. 113-122.25. Extrait d'un Mémoire sur la double Réfraction particulière que présente le cristal de roche dans la irection de son axe. Tome 28, 1825. Titlepage to vol. 28. Pp. 147-161. + (25 a) Extrait d'un Mémoire sur la double Réfraction. Tome 28, 1825. Pp. 263-279. (According to Buchwald ""The Rise of the Wave Theory opf Light"" , p. 462, these 2 extracts composes the entire memoire.26. Note sur la Répulsion que des corps échauffés exercent les uns sur les autres à des distances sensibles. (Lue à l'Institut le 13 juin 1825). Tome 29, 1825. Titlepage to vol. 29. Pp. 57-62.27. Extrait d'un Mémoire sur la Loi des modifications imprimées à la lumière polarisée par sa réflexion totale dans l'intérieur des corps transparens. Tome 29, 1825. Pp. 175-187. (This paper was never printed in full).
"FOUCAULT, (JEAN BERNARD LEON) - EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE FOR THE WAVE-THEORY OF LIGHT.
Reference : 44783
(1854)
Sur les Vitesses relatives de la Lumière dans L'Air et dans L'Eau.
Paris, Victor Masson, 1854. No wrappers. Extracted from ""Annales de Chimie et de Physique"", 3me Series - Tome 41. With titlepage to Tome 41. Pp. 120-164 and 1 large folded engraved plate showing the experimental apparatus. Some foxing throughout.
The periodical issue of Foucault's doctorial thesis in which he for the first time showed that light slows down in water, thus giving experimental evidence for the undulatory theory of light.""He...made use of his mirror method to measure the velocity of light through water and other transparent media. As long before as the time of Huygens and Newton it had been suggested that one way of settling the dispute as to whether light was a wave form or a stream of particles was by measuring its velocity in water. According to the wave theory, light should slow down in water"" according to the particle theory, it should speed up. In 1853 showed that the velocity of light was less in water than in air, a strong piece of evidence in favor of the wave theory. He presented this work as his doctoral thesis.""(Asimov).
"FRESNEL, AUGUSTIN. - THE UNDULATORY THEORY OF LIGHT ESTABLISHED.
Reference : 43919
(1833)
Ueber die Diffraction des Lichts. (Mèmoires de l'acad. roy. des Scences etc. T. V. p. 339). (+) Auszug aus einer Abhandlung über die Reflexion des Lichts. (Ann. de chim. et de phys. T. XV p.379).
(Leipzig, Joh. Ambrosius Barth, 1833). Contemp. hcalf. Spine gilt. Very light wear to spine ends and edges. In: ""Annalen der Physik und Chemie. Hrsg.von Poggendorff"", Jahrgang 1833 (Bd. 30), Ergäntzungsheft. 376 pp. a. 2 folded engraved plates. 2 small stamps to p.1 and a small stamp to verso of plates. (Entire volume offered). Fresnel's papers: pp. 100-255 a. pp. 255-261. Clean and fine.
First German edition of Fresnel's epoch-making memoir from the French Academy (1826) and incorporating his experimental results from the years 1815-19, in which he for the first time explained the causes of the diffraction effects as the mutual interference of the secondary waves emitted by those portions of the original wave-front which have not been obstructed by the diffraction screen. His methods of calculation utilized the principles of both Huygens and Young and he summed the effects due to different portions of the same primary wave-front. He demonstrates that the transverse wave theory of light explains the observed phenomena of reflection, refraction, interference, polarization, difraction patterns, diffraction fringes etc., making a strong case for the theory of the transverse nature of light waves. The memoir records also Fresnel's famous mirror-experiment.""In broad contect Fresnel's work can be viewed as the first successfull assault on the theory of imponderables and a major influence on the development of nineteenth-centurty energetics."" (DSB V, p. 171).""Augustin Fresnel seems to have adopted a wave theory of light from the very beginning of his studies. His first paper, presented to the Academy...in October 1815, and entitled ""La Diffraction de la Lumiere"" (the paper offered), was written after a long correspondance with Arago, who had promised Fresnel his full support. ""The wave theory"" Fresnel wrote, ""is well suited to explaining the complicated propagation of light phenomena, and since, as we know from the case of sound, waves can surcomvent obstacles, I decided to make a study of shadows.....It is because they cross in regions common to them both that two pencils of rays can produce fringes. hence it follows that the vibrations of rays which cross at very small angles can cancel out whenever crests of one correspond to the throughs of the other.""The voume contains further a notable paper by AMPÈRE ""Bestimmung der krummen Fläche der Lichtswellen in einem Mittel, dessen Elasticität verschieden ist nach den drei Hauptrichtungen, d.h. nach debjenigen, in welchem die von der Elasticität erregte Kraft in desselben Richtung wirkt, in der die Theilchen dieses Mittels verschoben wurden."" First German edition. Pp. 262-295.
Ueber die durch polarisirtes Lichts in homogenen Flüssigkeiten hervorgebrachten Farben. (...der Pariser Academie am 30. März 1818 vorgelegt). (+) Ueber die Reflexion des Lichts. (Der Pariser Academie vorgelegt am 15. Nov. 1819). (2 Mémoirs).
Leipzig, Johann Ambrosius Barth, 1848. Without wrappers. In ""Annalen der Physik und Chemie. Hrsg. von J.C. Poggendorff"", Ergänzungsbd., Bd. II, Stück 2. Titlepage to Erg-Bd. 2. Pp. 193-368. (The entire issue offered). Fresnel's papers: pp. 304-331, textillustr. a. pp. 332-355, textillustr. A stamp on titlepage and verso of. Clean and fine.
First German editions of two importent memoirs on polarization and reflexion of light by ""the founder of the new optics"". The French versions of the papers appeared in ""Annales de Chimie et de Physique""(1846).The first paper takes on a central role in Fresnel's dealing with polarization in general and specially with chromatioc polarization and the explaining the phenomena that arises when light travels through crystals. The paper was read at the Academy on march 30, was not printed at the time as it disappeared and only turned up many years later, around 1845, when it was found in the papers of Fresnel's brother. ""On croyait ou Mémoire perdu. Il a été retrouvé dans les papiers de M. Léonor Fresnel, frère de l'illustre académicien."" Thus, the offered paper is here PRINTED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND IN ITS FULL LENGHT (in the German version).The second paper deals with reflection and explains the different phenomena seen when light is reflected from glassplates having two surfaces parallel or with curvature, interference of reflected waves and the measure of their different wavelenghts, all explained according to the wave theory of light. The paper offered is for the FIRST TIME PRINTED IN ITS FULL LENGHT (in the German version), as it only appeared in the résumé-form in 1820 ""Résumé d'un Mémoire sur la Réflexion de la lumière"" (Annales de Chimie et de Physique, tome 15, pp. 379-386).""As it was, Fresnel succeeded fully in attaining his explicit goal, the establishment of the wave conception of light. Not long after his death scientific opinion definitely shiftedin favor of waves and opened up the pathway leading to the deeper insight of Maxwell. In broad context Fresnel's work can be viewed as the first successfull assault on the theory of imponderables and a major influence on the development of nineteenth-centurty energetics."" (DSB V, p. 171).
Mémoire Sur les couleurs développées dans des Fluides homogènes par la lumière polarisée. (Presenté à l'Academie, le 30 mars 1818) (+) Mémoire sur la Réflexion de la Lumiere. (Presenté à l'Academie, le 15 novembre 1819). (2 Memoirs).
Paris, Victor Masson, 1846. No wrappers as extracted from ""Annales de Chimie et de Physique"", Tome 17, Troisieme Série. Titlepage to tome 17. Pp. 172-199 a. 1 engraved plate + pp. 316-338, textillustr. Brownspots to titlepage and some browspots to the second memoir.
First editions of two importent memoirs on polarization and reflexion of light by ""the founder of the new optics"".The first paper takes on a central role in Fresnel's dealing with polarization in general and specially with chromatioc polarization and the explaining the phenomena that arises when light travels through crystals. The paper was read at the Academy on march 30, was not printed at the time as it disappeared and only turned up many years later, around 1845, when it was found in the papers of Fresnel's brother. ""On croyait ou Mémoire perdu. Il a été retrouvé dans les papiers de M. Léonor Fresnel, frère de l'illustre académicien."" Thus, the offered paper is here PRINTED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND IN ITS FULL LENGHT.The second paper deals with reflection and explains the different phenomena seen when light is reflected from glassplates having two surfaces parallel or with curvature, interference of reflected waves and the measure of their different wavelenghts, all explained according to the wave theory of light. The paper offered is for the FIRST TIME PRINTED IN ITS FULL LENGHT, as it only appeared in the résumé-form in 1820 ""Résumé d'un Mémoire sur la Réflexion de la lumière"" (Annales de Chimie et de Physique, tome 15, pp. 379-386).""As it was, Fresnel succeeded fully in attaining his explicit goal, the establishment of the wave conception of light. Not long after his death scientific opinion definitely shiftedin favor of waves and opened up the pathway leading to the deeper insight of Maxwell. In broad context Fresnel's work can be viewed as the first successfull assault on the theory of imponderables and a major influence on the development of nineteenth-centurty energetics."" (DSB V, p. 171).
"DRUMMOND, THOMAS. - THE INVENTION OF LIMELIGHT, THE ""DRUMMOND LIGHT""
Reference : 46535
(1826)
On the means of facilitating the observation of distant stations in geodætical operations. Read May 4, 1826.
(London, W.Nicol, 1826). 4to. No wrappers as extracted from ""Philosophical Transactions"" 1826 - Part III. Pp. 324-337 and 1 engraved plate. A faint dampstain to top of plate.
First appearance of Drummond's paper in which he described his (and Goldsworthy Gurney's) invention and coined the word 'limelight'. His apparatus, demonstrated on the plate, was originally used for surveying as the title of the paper shows. Drummond claimed the light to be 83 times brighter than any previous artificial light.The Scottish engineer, Thomas Drummond (1797-1840), saw a demonstration of the effect by Michael Faraday and realized that the light would be useful for surveying. Drummond built a working version in 1826, and the device is sometimes called the Drummond Light after him. Limelight was first used in public in the Covent Garden Theatre in London in 1837 and enjoyed widespread use in theatres around the world in the 1860s and 1870s. Limelights were employed to highlight solo performers in the same manner as modern followspots (spotlights). Limelight was replaced by electric arc lighting in the late 19th century. (Wikipedia).""John Hersehel describes the impression produced when the light was first exhibited in the Tower: ""The common Argand burner and parabolic reflector of a British lighthouse were first exhibited, the room being darkened, and with considerable effect. Fresnel’s superb lamp was next disclosed, at whose superior effect the other seemed to dwindle, and showed in a manner quite subordinate. But when the gas began to play, the lime being brought now to its full ignition and the screen suddenly removed, a glare shone forth, overpowering, and as it were annihilating, both its predecessors, which appeared by its side, the one as a feeble gleam which it required attention to see, the other like a mere plate of heated metal. A shout of triumph and of admiration burst from all present.""’ (DNB).Parkinson ""Breakthroughs"", 1825 C
"LEBEDEW, PETER. - CONFIRMING MAXWELL'S HYPOTHESIS OF THE PRESSURE OF LIGHT.
Reference : 43631
(1901)
Untersuchungen über die Druckkräfte des Lichtes.
Leipzig, Ambrosius Barth, 1901. Without wrappers. In: ""Annalen der Physik"", Vierte Folge, Bd. 6, No. 11. (Entire issue offered). Pp. 433-458. Lebedew's paper: pp. 433-458., textillustrations. Clean and fine.
First printing of Lebedew's importent paper which he presented at an international conference (1899), and in which he described his detection of the pressure of light.""He was interested in the possibility that light might exert pressures. This had been predicted by Maxwell's equations and it was a handy explanation, for instance, for the fact that comet's tails always pointed generally away from the sun whether the comet was approaching the sun or receding. In 1901 (in the paper offered), using very light mirrors in a vacuum, Lebedew was actually able to observe and measure the pressure exerted by light, again confirmning Maxwell's theories, as well as providing a vehicle for Arrhenius' life-spores.""(Asimov).Parkinson ""Breakthroughs"", 1899 C.
"FRESNEL, AUGUSTIN. - OVERTHROWING THE CORPUSCULAR THEORY OF LIGHT.
Reference : 43910
(1816)
Mémoire Sur la Diffraction de la lumière, où l'on examine particulièrement le phénomène des franges colorées que présentent les ombres des corps éclairés par un point lumineux. (Memoir on the Diffraction of Light....)
(Paris, Crochard, 1816) No wrappers. In: 'Annales de Chimie et de Physique', Tome I, Sec. Series, Cahier Mars 1816. With htitle to vol. I. Pp. 225-336 and 1 folded engraved plate. (The entire issue offered). Fresnel's paper: pp. 239-281. The plate shows the diffraction patterns.
First appearance of Fresnel's landmark mémoir - this mémoir was his first paper on diffraction, and was later given the prize of the French Academy and published in Memoires de l'Academie in 1826 in full, together with his further developments of his light theory - in which he for the first time explained the causes of the diffraction effects as the mutual interference of the secondary waves emitted by those portions of the original wave-front which have not been obstructed by the diffraction screen. His methods of calculation utilized the principles of both Huygens and Young and he summed the effects due to different portions of the same primary wave-front. The memoir records also Fresnel's famous mirror-experiment.""In broad context Fresnel's work can be viewed as the first successfull assault on the theory of imponderables and a major influence on the development of nineteenth-centurty energetics."" (DSB V, p. 171).""Augustin Fresnel seems to have adopted a wave theory of light from the very beginning of his studies. His first paper, presented to the Academy...in October 1815, and entitled ""La Diffraction de la Lumiere"" (the paper offered), was written after a long correspondance with Arago, who had promised Fresnel his full support. ""The wave theory"" Fresnel wrote, ""is well suited to explaining the complicated propagation of light phenomena, and since, as we know from the case of sound, waves can surcomvent obstacles, I decided to make a study of shadows.....It is because they cross in regions common to them both that two pencils of rays can produce fringes. hence it follows that the vibrations of rays which cross at very small angles can cancel out whenever crests of one correspond to the throughs of the other.""
"EULER, LEONHARD. - LIGHT REFRACTION AND THE WAVE THEORY OF LIGHT.
Reference : 48838
(1758)
Expériences pour determiner la Refraction de toutes Sortes de Liqueurs transparantes.
(Berlin, Haude et Spener, 1758). 4to. No wrappers as issued in ""Memoires de l'Academie Royale des Sciences et Belles Lettres"". tome XI, 1756 pp. 235-266 and 1 folded engraved plate. Clean and fine.
First edition. In this memoir Euler records different experiments and their mathematical treatment with light refraction in liquids to follow up his own wave theory of light-refractions already put forward in 1746. - Enestrom: 234.
"LORENZ, L. (LUDVIG VALENTIN). - ESTABLISHING THE ELECTRO-MAGNETIC THEORY OF LIGHT.
Reference : 53255
(1867)
Om Identiteten af Lyssvingninger og elektriske Strømme. Meddelt den 25. Jan. 1866. (On the Identity of light- vibrations and electrical Currents - Ueber die Identität der Schwingungen des Lichts mit den elektrischen Strömen - Sur l'identité des vibrat...
Kjöbenhavn, Bianco Luno, 1867. Contemp. hcalf. Gilt spine with gilt lettering. In: ""Oversigt over det Kongelige danske Videnskabernes Selskabs Forhandlinger... i Aaret 1867"". X,273,49,(3) pp., textillustrations and plates. (Entire volume offered). Lorenz's paper: pp. 26-45 and pp. 9-16 (Resumé en Francais). Clean and fine.
Scarce first edition of Lorenz' landmark paper, which contains his important studies on the electromagnetic theory of light in which he - less than two years after, but independently of, Maxwell - found that LIGHT MIGHT BE INTERPRETED AS ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, and that his equations lead to the CORRECT VALUE FOR THE VELOCITY OF LIGHT. ""The procedure which Lorenz followed was that of which Riemann had suggested in 1858, namely, to modify the accepted formula of electrodynamics by introducing terms which, though too small to be appreciable in ordinary laboratory experiments, would be capable of accounting for the propagation of electrical effects through space with a finite velocity...The (Lorenz-) equations are, however, the fundamental equations of Maxwell's theory"" and therefore the theory of L. Lorenz is practically equivalent to that of Maxwell, so far as concerns the propagation of electromagnetic disturbances through free aether.....he suggested that ALL LUMINOUS VIBRATIONS MIGHT BE CONSTITUTED BY ELECTRIC CURRENTS, and hence that there was 'no longer any reason for maintaining the hypothesis of an aether, since we can admit that space contains sufficient ponderable matter to enable the disturbance to be propagated"" (Edmund Whittaker in ""A History of the Theories of Aether and Electricity I"", p. 267-70).
FARADAY, MICHAEL. .- THE ORIGIN OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC THEORY OF LIGHT.
Reference : 42292
(1852)
Experimental Researches in Electricity. - Twenty-eight Series. 36. On the Lines of Magnetic Force their definite character" and their distribution within a Magnet and through Space. (Sections 3070-3176). Recieved October 22, - Read November 27 and ...
(London, Richard Taylor and William Francis, 1852). 4to. No wrappers as extracted from ""Philosophical Transactions"" 1852 - Part I. Pp. 25-56, textillustr. Clean and fine.
First appearance of a historical paper in electromagnetical theory. Faraday in this paper defines his key concept ""lines of force"" and summarizes in what connections he used it and he shows how it explains the pehenomena of magnetism and electricity. His insistance of the importence of the electromagnetic fields of force was the historical starting point of the electrical side of modern theories of field physics. Maxwell later translated these ideas into mathematical form, and developed them into his theory of electromagnetic waves.Especially notable in this paper is: As all space is permeated by lines of force, Faraday suggests that light and radiant heat might be tranverse vibrations propagated along these lines of force. In this way he proposed to ""dismiss the aether"" and to replace it by lines of force between centres, the centres together with their lines of force constituting the particles of material substance. If the existance of a luminiferous aether were to be admitted he suggests that it might be the vehicle of magnetic force ""for it is not at all unlikely that if there be an aether, it should have other uses than simply the conveyance of radiations"" (section 3075 in this paper offered). This sentece may be regarded as THE ORIGIN OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC THEORY OF LIGHT (Whittaker in: A History of the theories of the Aether and Electricity, I: pp. 194-95).From 1831 to 1852 Michael Faraday published his ""Experimental Researches in Electricity"" in The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. These papers contain not only an impressive series of experimental discoveries, but also a collection of heterodox theoretical concepts on the nature of these phenomena expressed in terms of lines of forces and fields. He published 30 papers in all under this general title.They represents Faraday's most importent work, are classics in both chemistry and physics and are the experimental foundations for Maxwell's electro-magnetic theory of light, using Faraday's concepts of lines of force or tubes of magnetic and electrical forces. His many experiments on the effects of electricity and magnetism presented in these papers lead to the fundamental discoveries of 'induced electricity' (the Farday current), the electronic state of matter, the identity of electricity from different sources, equivalents in electro-chemical decomposition, electrostatic induction, hydro-electricity, diamagnetism, relation of gravity to electricity, atmospheric magnetism and many other.""Among experimental philosophers Faraday holds by universal consent the foremost place. The memoirs in which his discoveries are enshrined will never ceaseto be read with admiration and delight"" and future generations will preserve with an affection not less enduring the personal records and familiar letters, which recall the memory of his humble and unselfish spirit.""(Edmund Whittaker in A History of the Theories of Aether and Electricity).
"WEBER, W. (WILHELM) AND R. KOHLRAUSCH. - THE VELOCITY OF LIGHT.
Reference : 43497
(1867)
Ueber die Elektricitätsmenge, welche bei galvanischen Strömen durch den Querschnitt der Kette fliest.
Leipzig, Johann Ambrosius Barth, 1867. Contemp. hcalf, raised bands, gilt spine with gilt lettering. A few scratches to binding. In ""Annalen der Physik und Chemie. Hrsg.von Poggendorff"", Bd. 99. (Entire volume offered). (2),X,652 pp. and 4 folded engraved plates. Weber & Kohlrausch's paper:pp. 10-25.
First appearance of this importent paper, the results of which Maxwell later used as a crucial support for his electromagnetical theory of light.""...The velocity of light c were measured by W. Weber and R. Kohlrausch in 1855 (the paper offered). They used an electrometer to determine the charge of a condnsor in electrostatic units, and a ballistic galvanometer to measure the same charge in electrodynamic units. The resulting value for c was in good agreement with that obtained by Fizeau in 1849, and Maxwell accordingly felt entitled to identify light and electromagnetic vibrations. This conclusion recalls Newton's identification of gravity with universal attraction: it was not only because they obeyed the same formal law, but also because both led to the same mathematical results, that Newton saw fit to combine them.""(Taton, Réne in ""History of Sciencein The Nineteenth Century"", p. 163).
"EULER, LEONHARD. - TAILS OF COMETS - NORTHERN LIGHTS - ZODIACAL LIGHT.
Reference : 46604
(1748)
Recherches Physiques sur la Cause de la Queüe des Cometes, de la Lumiere Boreale, et de la Lumiere Zodiacale. (Physical Investigations on the tail of comets, the northern lights, and the zodiacal light)
(Berlin, Haude et Spener, 1748). 4to. No wrappers as issued in ""Memoires de L'Academie Royale des Sciences et des Belles Lettres."", Tome II, pp. 117-140 and 2 folded engraved plates.
First printing. ""Euler rejects the view of de Mairan that the zodiacal light is the cause of the tails of comets and the northern lights"" instead Euler argues that zodiacal light is the results of particles emanating from the sun, the tails of comets is the results of particles emanating from the bodies of the comets, and that the northern lights is the results of particles emanating from the earth...he also infers the existance of a solar atmosphere from the existance of sun-spots. He calculates the form of the solar atmosphere and arrives at a cubic equation."" (Based on Aiton's introduction to Opera Omnia). Enestrom: 103.
"ARAGO, DOMINIQUE- FRANCOIS et AUGUSTIN FRESNEL. - ESTABLISHING THAT LIGHT VIBRATES TRANSVERSELY.
Reference : 47357
(1819)
Mémoire Sur l'Action que les rayons de lumière polarisés exercent les uns sur les autres.
Paris, Crochard, 1819. 8vo. No wrappers. In ""Annales de Chimie et de Physique"", Tome X, 2. Series, Cahier 3. Titlepage to vol. X. Pp. 241-336 (entire issue offered, Cahier 3). Arago and Fresnel's paper: pp. 288-306.
First appearance of this seminal paper in which Arago and Fresnel described the experiments which demonstrated that light vibrates transversely to its direction of forward movement.""In a further letter to Arago, dated 29 April 1818 Young recurred to the subject of transverse vibrations, comparing light to the undulations of a cord agitated by one of its extremities. This letter was shown by Arago to Fresnel, who at once saw that it presented the true explanation of the non-interference of beams polarised in perpendicular planes, and that the latter effect could even be made the basis of a proof of the correctness of Young's hypothesis" for if the vibration of each beam be supposed resolved into three components, one along the ray and the other two at right angles to it, it is obvious from the Arago-Fresnel experiment that the components in the direction of the ray must vanish" in other words THAT THE VIBRATIONS WHICH CONSTITUTE LIGHT ARE EXECUTED IN THE WAVE-FRONT."" (Edmund Whittaker in ""A History of the Theories of Aether and Electricity I"", p. 115). - Parkinson, Breakthroughs 1819 P. - Magie ""A Source Book in Physics, p. 325 ff.
"MAJORANA, Q. - PROVING THAT THE SPEED OF LIGHT IS INDEPENDENT OF ITS SOURCE.
Reference : 48169
(1917)
Démonstration experimentale de la constance de vitesse de la lumiére réfléchie par un miroir en mouvement.
(Paris, Gauthier-Villars), 1917. 4to. No wrappers. In: ""Comptes Rendus hebdomadaires des Séances de L'Academie des Sciences"", tome 165, No 14. Pp. (417-) 448. (Entire issue offered). Majorana's paper: pp. 424-428. A stamp in upper right corner of the first page.
First apperance of Majorana's paper which was the first experimentally to prove the speed of light as set forth by Einstein in his special relativity theory. Majorana was critical to Einstein's relativity, and he therefore tried to prove experimentally that the postulate of the speed of light was wrong. His experiments turned out otherwise, and he hereby proved Einstein's postulate that the speed of light was independent of the velocxity of its source.
