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The Structure of Light Waves

Nature volume 137, page 663 (1936)Cite this article

Abstract

I WAS very much interested in Sir J. J. Thomson's letter1 in which he suggests that light waves are axially symmetrical systems of electro-magnetic waves propagating along the axis of symmetry, as I made the same suggestion in 19292 and then repeated it in my recent papers in the Philosophical Magazine3 where this kind of Maxwell waves was discussed in detail; on the basis of this discussion a theory of elementary ” material” particles (like electrons and protons) and of the photons was developed, according to which these entities were regarded as certain axially symmetrical systems of Maxwell electro-magnetic waves.

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References

  1. NATURE, 137, 232 (Feb. 8, 1936).

  2. Z. Phys., 54, 1 and 2, 121 (1929).

  3. Phil. Mag., 19, 954 (1935); ibid., 20, 441, 646, 695 and 702.

  4. See equation (24) in Z. Phys., loc. cit., from which Sir J. J. Thomson's equation = 0 is obtained as a particular case by equating the constants l = 1 and k = 0.

  5. See formula (27) in Z. Phys., loc. cit., Sir J. J. Thomson's solution is obtained as a particular case by putting l = 1 and k = 0.

  6. The notation used in my paper differs from the notation in Sir J. J. Thomson's letter. His Q,, A and B correspond to my Y, r, C1 and C2C1 respectively.

  7. The solution suitable for free axially symmetrical waves of this kind requires that the radial component of the electro-magnetic vector at = 0 should not only be finite, but also equal to zero (see Z. Phys., loc. cit., 116).

  8. Z. Phys., loc. cit.

  9. Phil. Mag., loc. cit.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Davy Faraday Laboratory, Royal Institution, Albemarle Street, London, W.1

    N. S. JAPOLSKY

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  1. N. S. JAPOLSKY
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JAPOLSKY, N. The Structure of Light Waves. Nature 137, 663 (1936). https://doi.org/10.1038/137663b0

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