The Rise of the Wave Theory of Light: Optical Theory and Experiment in the Early Nineteenth Century. Jed Z. Buchwald

Isis ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 362-363
Author(s):  
John Worrall
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Wave Theory ◽  
Early Nineteenth Century ◽  
Optical Theory ◽  
Theory And Experiment

Editing out caloric: Fresnel, Arago and the meaning of light

2000 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
THERESA LEVITT
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Wave Theory ◽  
Early Nineteenth Century ◽  
Nineteenth Century France ◽  
United Front

Augustin Fresnel and François Arago are typically credited with jointly establishing the wave theory of light in early nineteenth-century France. Yet the two men, working in different traditions, brought to their collaboration vastly different conceptions of what light was and how it should be studied. This paper traces the work that went into co-ordinating these disparate approaches into a united front, as well as the dissolution of the alliance after 1821. Although the fruits of their alliance proved remarkably stable, in fact agreement between them was never more than partial.

The physical interpretation of the wave theory of light

1984 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank A. J. L. James
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Physical Interpretation ◽  
Wave Theory ◽  
The Other ◽  
Early Nineteenth Century

There existed essentially two theories of light during the early nineteenth century: the particulate theory and the wave theory. This we realise today is a gross over-simplification, since there were many varieties of each theory. But to the supporters of one theory the other theory had faults so fundamental that no distinction between varieties of the same theory was sufficient to placate opposition to that theory. This meant that opponents of either the wave or the particulate theory seldom, in their attacks, distinguished between different varieties of either theory.

George Gabriel Stokes on Stellar Aberration and the Luminiferous Ether

1972 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Special Form ◽  
Elastic Solid ◽  
Wave Theory ◽  
Early Nineteenth Century ◽  
Transverse Vibrations ◽  
John Herschel ◽  
Light Waves ◽  
Real Truth ◽  
Stellar Aberration

Acceptance of Augustin Fresnel's wave theory of light posed numerous questions for early nineteenth-century physicists. Among the most pressing was the problem of the properties of the luminiferous ether. Fresnel had shown that light waves were transverse. Therefore, since, among ordinary materials, only solids support transverse vibrations, there existed striking likenesses between highly tangible solids and the highly intangible ether. Accordingly, such men as Augustin-Louis Cauchy, James MacCullagh, Franz Neumann, and George Green constructed various theories of an elastic-solid ether.1 At the same time, however, the disconcerting implausibilities of an all-pervasive solid provoked considerable apprehension in regard to the elastic-solid tradition. Thomas Young found the concept ‘perfectly appalling’ and argued that ‘the hypothesis [that fluids can support transverse vibrations] remains completely open for discussion, notwithstanding the apparent difficulties attending it.’2 John Herschel, probably the most important English advocate of the wave theory, regarded the concept of a solid ether as only a temporary device, useful ‘till the real truth shall be discovered.’3 Consequently, despite the accomplishments which helped to make the elastic-solid theory ‘the most celebrated special form of the wave theory’,4 there were important voices of reservation.

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