Mémoire sur la dispersion de la lumière.

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Important Sammelband on light and astronomy, including Cauchy's 1830 Memoir on dispersion: CAUCHY, Augustin-Louis. Mémoire sur la dispersion de la lumière, Paris: Chez de Bure frères, 1830. 4to (257 x 204mm). [2], 24 pp. [Bound with:] II. STEVENSON, Alan. Observations on the Application of Catadioptric Zones to Lights of the First Order in the System of Fresnel. Edinburgh: Neill & Co., 1840, 12, [4] pp., 1 plate. One engraved plate (slight marginal browning). [Bound with:] III. HERSCHEL, William. Observations of a Second Comet, with remarks on its construction. Extract from Philosphical Transactions, [London, 1812, Vol. 102], pp.229-237. [Bound with:] IV. HERSCHEL, William. Experiments for Ascertaining how far Telescopes will enable us to determine very small angles, and to distinguish the real from the Spurious Diameter of celestial and terrestrial Objects. Extract from Philosphical Transactions, [London, 1805, Vol. 95], pp. 31-64. Lacking plate. [Bound with:] V. CAVENDISH, Henry. Experiments to Determine the Density of the Earth. Extract from Philosophical Transactions. [London, 1798, Vol. 88], 469-526, 2 folding engraved plates (slightly foxed). [Bound with:] VI. DOWNES, Olinthus Gregory. On the Physical Constitution of Comets. London: C. & E. Layton, 1860. [4], 45 [1] pp, half-title, 3 lithographed plates. [Bound with:] VII. FORBES, James D. Bakerian Lecture - On the Transparency of the Atmosphere and the Law of Extinction of the Solar Rays in passing through it. Extract from Philosophical Transactions. [London, 1842], pp. 225-273 [1], 9 plates, 6 folding (slight browning and some marginal dampstaining). [Bound with:] VIII. AIRY, George Biddell. The Bakerian lecture - On the Theoretical Explanation of an apparent new Polarity in Light. Extract from: Philosophical Transactions. [London, 1840], pp. 225-244. Folding plate. All bound in later blue pebbled cloth, spine with gilt lettering and printed paper label (hinges and spine repaired). Little age browning of text and plates, first title with clean tear repaired. ---- EXCEPTIONALLY RARE FIRST EDITION of the Memoir in which Cauchy first explained the dispersion of light from the undulatory theory of light. On June 7 and 14, 1830, three years after Fresnel's death, Cauchy presented a comparatively short (given his customary standards) memoir on light before the Académie in Paris, which appeared there after in the Bulletin de Férussac; he also had it printed separately by de Bure Frères . Then, after the appearance in 1830 of the Memoir on light that he had presented on June 14 of that year before the Académie, Cauchy published one further paper on light in Férussac, and nothing more until 1835. We do however know that at the time of his June 14 presentation he also announced to the Académie that he 'had the formulas relative to the dispersion of light that he had read at the last session.' The Procès Verbaux for the meeting accordingly noted that Cauchy had presented a memoir 'on the subject.' (J.Z. Buchwald, Chapter 22 - Cauchy?s Theory of Dispersion Anticipated by Fresnel). In 1830, using the discrete model of a medium (ether), Cauchy tried to explain dispersion of the light under the assumption that the light represents elastic waves with a very large frequency. He showed that for wavelengths that are much greater than the distance between the neighbouring particles in the one-dimensional lattice, the wave velocity does not depend on the wavelength. However, for the short wavelengths, that is, for high frequencies, the wave velocity is a function of wavelength and can vary essentially. Cauchy reprinted the Memoir of 1830 during his stay in Prague in 1835 and further expanded his theory in successive Memoirs published in Prague between 1835 and 1836. - Visit our website for additional images and information. Seller Inventory # 003172

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