Lenses and Waves
Lenses and Waves

Author: Fokko Jan Dijksterhuis

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2006-01-20

Total Pages: 294

ISBN-13: 1402026986

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In 1690, Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695) published Traité de la Lumière, containing his renowned wave theory of light. It is considered a landmark in seventeenth-century science, for the way Huygens mathematized the corpuscular nature of light and his probabilistic conception of natural knowledge. This book discusses the development of Huygens' wave theory, reconstructing the winding road that eventually led to Traité de la Lumière. For the first time, the full range of manuscript sources is taken into account. In addition, the development of Huygens' thinking on the nature of light is put in the context of his optics as a whole, which was dominated by his lifelong pursuit of theoretical and practical dioptrics. In so doing, this book offers the first account of the development of Huygens' mathematical analysis of lenses and telescopes and its significance for the origin of the wave theory of light. As Huygens applied his mathematical proficiency to practical issues pertaining to telescopes – including trying to design a perfect telescope by means of mathematical theory – his dioptrics is significant for our understanding of seventeenth-century relations between theory and practice. With this full account of Huygens' optics, this book sheds new light on the history of seventeenth-century optics and the rise of the new mathematical sciences, as well as Huygens' oeuvre as a whole. Students of the history of optics, of early mathematical physics, and the Scientific Revolution, will find this book enlightening.

Treatise On Light
Treatise On Light

Author: Christiaan Huygens

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2020-07-17

Total Pages: 102

ISBN-13: 3752308168

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Reproduction of the original: Treatise On Light by Christiaan Huygens

Huygens: The Man Behind the Principle
Huygens: The Man Behind the Principle

Author: C. D. Andriesse

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2005-08-25

Total Pages: 492

ISBN-13: 9780521850902

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Huygens: The Man Behind the Principle is the story of the great seventeenth-century Dutch mathematician and physicist, Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695). As the first complete biography ever written this book describes in detail how Huygens arrived at discoveries and inventions that are often wrongly ascribed to Newton. Huygens played a key role in the 'scientific revolution', and the Huygens Principle on the wave theory of light helped establish his reputation. The discovery of Saturn's rings and the invention of the pendulum clock made him so famous that he was invited to be the first director of the French Academy of Science, but his life as director teetered on the edge of powerlessness. Despite Huygens' many achievements no complete biography has previously been published in English. This book gives scientists and historians the opportunity to learn more about all aspects of Huygens' life while bringing his story to a wider audience.

The Tests of Time
The Tests of Time

Author: Lisa M. Dolling

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2003-02-16

Total Pages: 762

ISBN-13: 9780691090856

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The development of physical theory is one of our greatest intellectual achievements. Its products--the currently prevailing theories of physics, astronomy, and cosmology--have proved themselves to possess intrinsic beauty and to have enormous explanatory and predictive power. This anthology of primary readings chronicles the birth and maturation of five such theories (the heliocentric theory, the electromagnetic field theory, special and general relativity, quantum theory, and the big bang theory) in the words of the scientists who brought them to life. It is the first historical account that captures the rich substance of these theories, each of which represents a fascinating story of the interplay of evidence and insight--and of dialogue among great minds. Readers sit in with Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo as they overturn the geocentric universe; observe the genius of Faraday and Maxwell as they "discover" the electromagnetic field; look over Einstein's shoulder as he works out the details of relativity; listen in as Einstein and Bohr argue for the soul of quantum mechanics in the Completeness Debate; and watch as Hubble and others reveal the history of the universe. The editors' approach highlights the moments of discovery that rise from scientific creativity, and the presentation humanizes the scientific process, revealing the extent to which great scientists were the first to consider the philosophical implications of their work. But, most significantly, the editors offer this as their central thesis: although each was ushered in by a revolution, and each contains counterintuitive elements that delayed its acceptance, these five theories exhibit a continuous rational development that has led them to a permanent place in the worldview of science. Accessible to the general reader yet sufficiently substantive that working scientists will find value in it, The Tests of Time offers an intimate look into how physical theory has been developed, by the brilliant people who have developed it.

De Circuli Magnitudine Inventa (1654)
De Circuli Magnitudine Inventa (1654)

Author: Christiaan Huygens

Publisher:

Published: 2009-06

Total Pages: 82

ISBN-13: 9781104641269

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This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

A Catalogue of the Manuscripts of Christiaan Huygens including a concordance with his Oeuvres Complètes
A Catalogue of the Manuscripts of Christiaan Huygens including a concordance with his Oeuvres Complètes

Author: Joella Yoder

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2013-05-13

Total Pages: 350

ISBN-13: 9004235655

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A Catalogue of the Manuscripts of Christiaan Huygens inventories all known manuscripts written by Christiaan Huygens as well as all letters to or from him. Because almost all of the manuscripts are housed at the University of Leiden in a collection entitled Codices Hugeniani, the catalogue contains an inventory of that entire collection of family papers, including many involving Constantijn Huygens. In addition, because most scholars begin their research by consulting Oeuvres Complètes de Christiaan Huygens, which does not provide enough information to relocate the manuscripts edited therein, this catalogue essentially footnotes every edited piece by listing the source manuscripts page-by-page for each volume. Thus, the researcher should be able to move easily between manuscript and edition.