Abstract
A SHORT article with the above title in Nature of May 15, p. 780, directed attention to the formulation by M. F. Prunier of a wave equation for astronomical planetary systems similar to Schrödinger's equation for atomic systems. It has just been brought to our notice that a somewhat similar hypothesis had been put forward earlier by Mr. B. Liebowitz, of New York (Phys. Rev., 66, 343 ; 1944). His equation is satisfied by a variable which he calls the "probability of presence". The subsequent development, very surprisingly, seems to show that for a purely classical problem concerning the planets, akin to Bode's law, using purely classical arguments, an equation can be obtained which has the same form and meaning as Schrödinger's essential non-classical equation. But, in sharp opposition to the conclusion of M. Prunier, Mr. Liebowitz says that there is no implication of a magnetic moment associated with the angular momentum. It will be recalled that the possibility of such a relation, particularly for the earth's magnetism, has been much discussed since Prof. Blackett's article in Nature (159, 658 ; 1947) was published.
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Parallelism between Atomic and Planetary Properties. Nature 162, 409 (1948). https://doi.org/10.1038/162409a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/162409a0