Discrete Nature of Energy
Gustav demonstrated that energy is absorbed by an atom only in discrete amounts, quanta. This was not the first time energy was considered to consist of discrete packets of energy. Recently, I discussed Einstein’s (1879’-1955) photoelectric effect, which suggests that to explain the experimental results, one must consider the radiation as a particle (a photon) with energy hf, (h is Planck’s constant and f the frequency of radiation). This energy is then used to overcome the attraction between the electron and the atom whilst providing kinetic energy to the emitted electrons, so a beautiful exposition of the conversation of energy law.
Bohr-Einstein Debates
This idea was further used by Compton (1892-1962) when scattering X-rays with electrons, the change in wavelength before and after scattering is measured, and this allows for the change in energy to be determined and measurements of the energy of the scattered photon allows for a demonstration once again of the conversation of energy. We can do this with all forms of radiation due to de Broglie’s (relation) p =c/hf, where p=momentum, c is the speed of light. This result also explains why we do not diffract when we walk through a door, as with our momentum the aperture must be 10−32m.
Einstein, by the way was a big fan of de Broglie; this was before Einstein took objection to the probabilistic approach of Quantum Physics with the emergence of the Bohr-Einstein debates which are now legendary, especially during the most famous gathering of the greatest Physical minds at the 1926 Solvay conference where 17 of the 29 attendees won Nobel prizes (Marie Curie won two). During these so-called Bohr-Einstein debates, we have the famous utterings:
Einstein: God does not place dice with the Universe.
Bohr: Stop telling God what to do.
Battle of Three Giants
Einstein’s attempt to dismantle the Heisenberg (1901-1976) Uncertainty Principle culminated in the famed thought EPR experiment, but once again, Bohr won the battle, and only time will tell if he won the war. Scholars suggest that whilst Heisenberg was made head of nuclear research for Germany during WWII, he deliberated stalled advances in nuclear research to prevent Germany from having a weapon of mass disruption. If this is the case, he can be considered a war hero, just like the Mathematical code-breakers led by Turing (1912-1954).
Hertz’s Studies & Contribution
Returning to Hertz, he studied at the once center of the Mathematical and Physical world, Gottingen, having among its staff Ludwig Prandtl (of the Prandtl-Meyer expansion (supersonic flow around a convex corner), Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855) known as the Prince of Mathematics, Bernhard Riemann (1826-1866), of the Riemann Hypothesis fame, and Peter Gustav Lejeune Dirichlet (1805-1859) who was the first successor of Gauss and contributed to Fourier series and the study of partial differential equations.
Alas, once again I have run out of space and must end here.
