Abstract
MR. BIGGS has rendered a distinct service to physicists by preparing this short account of Schrodinger's theory. Beginning with the hypotheses of Louis de Broglie, out of which the subject has developed, he traces the evolution of the idea that wave-mechanics bears to classical mechanics the same relation as wave-optics bears to rayoptics, and obtains the partial differential equation for the ψ-waves, proceeding then to its applications in spectroscopy. The style is lively and readable, the points are well made, and altogether no better introduction to the latest phase of the quantum theory can be desired. We may perhaps offer two slight criticisms: the translation of Eigenwerte by “special values” seems particularly unfortunate— for those who dislike “characteristic values” or “autovalues,” the term “double numbers” may be suggested: and the mathematical treatment of the hydrogen-atom problem is greatly simplified, as Prof. Eddington pointed out some time ago in a letter to NATURE, by referring to the known properties of the Wk,m functions.
Wave Mechanics: an Introductory Sketch.
By H. F. Biggs. Pp. 77. (London: Oxford University Press, 1927.) 4s. 6d. net.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
[Book Reviews]. Nature 120, 651 (1927). https://doi.org/10.1038/120651c0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/120651c0