| RefNo | MS/242/23 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from Augustin Jean Fresnel to Thomas Young, dated at Paris |
| Date | 24 May 1816 |
| Description | Sends a treatise on diffraction of light which had already been presented to the Institut de France before Fresnel was aware of Young's own experiments on the topic. Fresnel has since issued a correction to acknowledge Young's precedence and now he is only publishing what is truly new in his research, on the coloured band within shadows. He can still not account for the difference in wave-length between colours, but likely to be because of the hyperbolic propagation of light, as discussed with [Jean-Dominique] Arago and demonstrated by Young. This dispproves [Isaac] Newton's system.
Explains his method of observation and its merits in experiments conducted with Arago, letting light only through holes, using mirrors and an iterative process. Has repeated Dutour[?]'s experiment.
Admits that finding out that Young had already priority on the discovery of double refraction was an unhappy moment for him as it meant his experiments had only unveiled one or two new discoveries but at least is glad that he confirmed such an important theory and that it meant he was put in contact with Young. |
| Language | French |
| Extent | 5p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7947 | Young; Thomas (1773 - 1829); physician, physicist and Egyptologist | 1773 - 1829 |