Abstract
I. THE emission theory of light prevailed for a century after Newton's death. During this time his “Opticks” was regarded as of equal importance as his “Principia,” and his emission theory as of equal value as his law of gravitation. Then, principally owing to the work of Fresnel, the emission theory was overthrown, and the wave theory established in its place. The latter in its turn has prevailed for a century, but now in certain quarters doubts are being expressed as to whether it is competent to explain the results of recent experimental work, and whether, after all, it may not be advisable to hark back to some form of emission theory, at least for certain fields of work.
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HOUSTOUN, R. The Present Position of the Wave Theory of Light. Nature 108, 13–15 (1921). https://doi.org/10.1038/108013a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/108013a0