Physics Mack Lecture
On the Verge of Umdeutung in Minnesota: John H. Van Vleck and the Transition From the Old Quantum Theory to Matrix Mechanics
Event Details
Date
Friday, September 18, 2009
Time
4 p.m.
Location
2241 Chamberlin Hall
Description
Michel Janssen, University of Minnesota, tells of a remarkable paper published in 1924 by John H. Van Vleck. Using Bohr's correspondence principle and Einstein's quantum theory of radiation along with advanced techniques from classical mechanics, Van Vleck showed that quantum formulae for emission, absorption and dispersion of radiation merge with their classical counterparts in the limit of high quantum numbers. Kramers and Heisenberg published a similar paper.
Cost
Free
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