- #1
fsonnichsen
- 62
- 5
I am curious about the historic experimental evidence that lead to Kirchhoff's radiation law. It is easy to take for granted the ubiquitous temperature/wavelength curve that lead Planck to the quantization concept. But I wondered historically how the curve was derived.
To clarify, we routinely see this spectral distribution in the laboratory with a simple benchtop spectrometer consisting of a dispersion grating and photdiode array. One can plot the relative intensities from the latter and reveal the curve.
But how was this done in the time prior to such a device? I believe that in Kirchhoff's time the only spectral device was the "spectroscope", perhaps with a photographic plate. How were the relative intensities determined? I could not locate the key papers from that time.
thanks
Fritz
To clarify, we routinely see this spectral distribution in the laboratory with a simple benchtop spectrometer consisting of a dispersion grating and photdiode array. One can plot the relative intensities from the latter and reveal the curve.
But how was this done in the time prior to such a device? I believe that in Kirchhoff's time the only spectral device was the "spectroscope", perhaps with a photographic plate. How were the relative intensities determined? I could not locate the key papers from that time.
thanks
Fritz