| RefNo | MS/603/10/106 |
| Previous numbers | 1878 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from E H [Edward Hutchinson] Synge, Knockroe, Dundrum, Co Dublin, to Sir Joseph Larmor |
| Creator | Synge; Edward Hutchinson (1890-1957); Irish physicist |
| Recipient | Larmor; Sir Joseph (1857-1942); Irish theoretical physicist |
| Date | 22 September 1923 |
| Description | Synge will see about having the notebooks sent over to Larmor, but he may have to bring them over himself. He is not convinced by Larmor's belief that [William Rowan] Hamilton's researches on the Dynamics of Light were unimportant. He transcribes a letter from Hamilton to [George Biddell] Airy of 23 September 1836 and comments upon [Augustin Louis] Cauchy's obsolete theory. Synge discusses his own acquaintance with the theory of light from 'some years ago', and he thinks there is a strong case for Hamilton's theory to be examined and compared with [Augustin Jean] Fresnel's. This relates to Hamilton's early work, and Synge describes Hamilton's later work of 1839-1840, noting a letter to [John Frederick William] Herschel. He has a strong feeling that something of importance has been missed. In a postscript, Synge asks if in the mechanics of Hamilton's theory, there might be grounds for the supposition that light travels in 'quanta'. |
| Extent | 3p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |