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Wave Mechanics and the Rotation of Homopolar Molecules

Abstract

IN a letter to NATURE (April 17, 1926, p. 555), J. C. Slater suggested an explanation of the ‘quarter quantum numbers’ used in describing the band spectra of homopolar diatomic molecules by assuming that, on the basis of the old quantum theory, the momentum was to be integrated about a half period only, since the molecule repeats itself after a rotation of 180°. This explanation finds its natural analogy in the new wave mechanics of Schrödinger, and leads to an interesting suggestion regarding the general solution of the wave equation.

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DENNISON, D. Wave Mechanics and the Rotation of Homopolar Molecules. Nature 119, 316–317 (1927). https://doi.org/10.1038/119316a0

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