BREWSTER, DAVID - DISCOVERING A NEW PROPERTY OF HEAT BIREFRINGENCE IN GLASS

Results of some recent Experiences on the Properties impressed upon Light by the Action of Glass raised to different Temperatures, and cooled under different Circumstances. In a Letter to Joseph Banks. Read May 19, 1814.

(London, W. Bulmer and Co., 1814). 4to. No wrappers as extracted from "Philosophical Transactions" 18154 - Part II. Pp. 436-439.

First appearance of an importent paper in which Brewster reveals his discovery of a new connection between light and heat: "glass brought to a certain temperature forms two images, and polarises them in opposite manner, like all doubly refracting crystals, the one image being coincident with the other"(p. 437). Brewster was the discoverer of the law of polarization, of biaxal crystals, of optical mineralogy, and of double refraction by compression.

Independently of Seebeck, in 1814 English physicist David Brewster started investigating birefringence in glass caused by inhomogeneous heating. He also investigated the effect of sudden cooling of heated glass and discovered that in broken glass birefringence vanishes. Brewster considered his discovery so important* that he hastily published a paper, in which he only verbally described the creation of birefringence in glass by heat.

With 2 other notable papers by HENRY KATER "An improved Method of dividing Astronomical Circles and other Instruments", pp. 419-435a. 2 folded engraved plates. And JOHN W.F. HERSCHEL "Consideration of various Points of Analysis", pp. 440-468.

Order-nr.: 45239