Abstract
THE dynamical theory of dispersion, as originally given by Sellmeier,2 consisted in finding the velocity of light as affected by vibratory molecules embedded in ether, such as those which had been suggested by Stokes3 to account for the dark lines of the solar spectrum. Sellmeier's mathematical work was founded on the simplest ideal of a molecular vibrator, which may be taken as a single material particle connected by a massless spring or springs with a rigid lining of a small vesicle in ether. He investigated the propagation of distortional waves, and found the following expression (which I give with slightly altered notation) for the square of the refractive index of light passing through ether studded with a very large number of vibratory molecules in every volume equal to the cube of the wavelength:—
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References
Sellmeier, Pogg. Ann., vol. 145, 1872, pp. 399, 520; vol. 147, 1872, pp. 386, 525.
See Kirchhoff-Stokes-Thomson, Phil. Mag., March and July 1860.
Fox-Talbot, Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin., 1870–71.
Leroux, Comptes rendus, 55, 1862, pp. 126–128.
Christiansen, Ann. Phys. Chem., 141, 1870, pp. 479, 480; Phil. Mag., 41, 1871, p. 244; Annales de Chimie, 25, 1872, pp. 213, 214.
Kundt, Pogg. Ann., vols. 142, 143, 144, 145, 1871–72.
Pogg. Ann., vol. 147, 1872, p. 525.
Wied. Ann., vol. 53, 1894, p. 267. In the formula quoted by Rubens from Ketteler, substitute for the value of found by putting = in Sellmeier's formula, and Ketteler's formula becomes identical with Sellmeier's. Remark that Ketteler's "M" is Sellmeier's "m2" according to my notation in the text.
Langley, Phil. Mag., 1886, 2nd half-year.
Rubens, Wied. Ann., vols. 53, 54, 1894–95.
Rubens, Wied. Ann., vol. 60, 1896–97, p. 454.
Rubens, and Aschkinass, Wied. Ann., vol. 64, 1898.
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The Dynamical Theory of Refraction, Dispersion and Anomalous Dispersion1. Nature 58, 546–547 (1898). https://doi.org/10.1038/058546e0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/058546e0
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