FRESNEL, AUGUSTIN. - ESTABLISHING THAT LIGHT IS A TRANSVERSE WAVE

Note sur le Calcul des teintes que la polarisation développe dans les lames cristallisées. (+) IIe Note sur la Coloration des lames cristallisées. (+) Addition à la IIe Note insérée dans le Cahier précédent, par M. Fresnel. (+) Note sur les remarques de M. Biot, publiées dans le Cahier précédent. (+) ARAGO & AMPÈRE: Rapport fait à l'Academie des Sciences, le lundi 4 juin 1821, sur un Mémoire de M. Fresnel relatif aux couleurs des lames cristallisées douées de la double réfraction. (+) BIOT: Remarques de M. Biot sur un Rapport lu, le 4 juin 1821, à l'Academie des Sciences, par MM. Arago et Ampere. (+) ARAGO: Examen des Remarques de M. Biot. (7 Papers).

Paris, Crochard, 1821. Contemp. hcloth. Gilt lettering to spine. Weak crack in fronthinge (but still firm). In: "Annales de Chimie et de Physique, Redigées par MM. Gay-Lussac et Arago". 448 pp., 1 folded plate. Some browning to htitle, title-page and last leaf, otherwise clean. Fresnel's papers: pp. 102-111, 167-196, 312-315 a. 393-403. Biot, Arago, Ampee: pp. 80-102, 225-258 a. 258-273.

First printing of these milestone papers in which Fresnel finally established the transversal nature of lightwaves. The volume also having the notable rapports and notes by Arago, Biot, Ampere exhibiting the famous controversy over the subject.
"This concept of transverse waves met with the greatest hostility from the scientists of the day, who could not imagine an extremely fluid and rarified ether which at the same time possessed the mechanical properties of a rigid body. Even Arago admitted that he could not follow the exuberant engineer in his ideas. But Fresnel was convinced that at last he had the key to many mysteries, and with his model of waves he gave a full clarification of the phenomena of polarization. With insuperable precision he explained a long series of extremely complicated experiments, such as those of chromatic polarization that Arago himself had discovered by chance in 1811, and which the followers of Newton could not explain in spite of all their efforts. Following this line Fresnel reached the synthesis which is his masterpiece....we must recall the final interpretation that he gave of the famous phenomenon of partial reflection by transparent surfaces, that simple phenomenon which until then had puzzled Grimaldi, Newton, and Huygens, and which in Malus's experiments had unexpectedly acquired a special importencee as it had been compared to the great mystery of double refraction."(Ronchi "The Nature of Light", p. 255 ff.).

Order-nr.: 49603