Letter to George F. Fitzgerald from Sir Oliver Lodge
Title
Letter to George F. Fitzgerald from Sir Oliver Lodge
Creator
Date
Identifier
GFF 2/65
Description
Handwritten letter from Sir Oliver Lodge, Victoria University, Liverpool, to George F. Fitzgerald, dated 3 February 1896. Lodge discusses J.J. Thompson's theory about longitudinal waves. 1p.
Transcription:
"M d Φ
J.J.'s longitudinal waves don't go independently of matter. They have to utilise the + and - charge on atoms and in free space they would - what I don't know. [?] transverse perhaps. A stream of unelectrified particles is the simplest thing. I shouldn't wonder if it turns out only that. I don't think that J.J. would admit that the velocity is the same in all matter, but he would dodge the refraction by reason of the = and - distances being equal to A ∴ [a?] by opposite displacements on the average [doubt reversed of sign and no rotation]
Λ"
Transcription:
"M d Φ
J.J.'s longitudinal waves don't go independently of matter. They have to utilise the + and - charge on atoms and in free space they would - what I don't know. [?] transverse perhaps. A stream of unelectrified particles is the simplest thing. I shouldn't wonder if it turns out only that. I don't think that J.J. would admit that the velocity is the same in all matter, but he would dodge the refraction by reason of the = and - distances being equal to A ∴ [a?] by opposite displacements on the average [doubt reversed of sign and no rotation]
Λ"
Source
RDS Library & Archives GFF collection of letters
Contributor
Rights
Copyright RDS Library & Archives. Publication, transmission or display is prohibited without formal written approval of the RDS Library & Archives.
Relation
RDS Science Archive
Format
Manuscript
Language
English
Type
Coverage
1870-1901
Collection
Citation
Lodge, Oliver, Sir, 1851-1940, “Letter to George F. Fitzgerald from Sir Oliver Lodge,” RDS Digital Archive, accessed December 6, 2025, https://digitalarchive.rds.ie/items/show/1325.