An unconvincing transformation? Michelson's interferential spectroscopy

Johnston, S.F. (2003) An unconvincing transformation? Michelson's interferential spectroscopy. Nuncius: Annali di Storia della Scienza, 18(2), pp. 803-823.

Abstract

Albert Abraham Michelson (1852-1931), the American optical physicist best known for his precise determination of the velocity of light and for his experiments concerning aether drift, is less often acknowledged as the creator of new spectroscopic instrumentation and new spectroscopies. He devised a new method of light analysis relying upon his favourite instrument – a particular configuration of optical interferometer – and published investigations of spectral line separation, Doppler-broadening and simple high-resolution spectra (1887-1898). Contemporaries did not pursue his method. Michelson himself discarded the technique by the end of the decade, promoting a new device, the ‘echelon spectroscope’, as a superior instrument. High-resolution spectroscopy was taken up by others at the turn of the century using the echelon, Fabry-Pérot etalon and similar instruments. Michelson’s ‘Light Wave Analysis’ was largely forgotten, but was rediscovered c1950 and developed over the following three decades into a technique rechristened ‘Fourier transform spectroscopy’. This paper presents Michelson’s interferometric work as a continuum of personal interests and historical context as an example of 'research technology' and 'peripheral science'.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Albert Michelson; spectroscopy; interferometer; spectroscope; spectrum; history of science
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Johnston, Professor Sean
• Authors: Johnston, S.F.
• Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability
• Journal Name: Nuncius: Annali di Storia della Scienza
• Publisher: Casa Editrice Leo S. Olschki
• ISSN: 0394-7394
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2003 Casa Editrice Leo S. Olschki
• First Published: First published in Nuncius:annali di storia della scienza 18(2):803-823
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher