| RefNo | MS/603/11/72 |
| Previous numbers | 2015 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from H H [Herbert Hall] Turner, University Observatory, Oxford, to [Joseph] Larmor |
| Creator | Turner; Herbert Hall (1861-1930); British astronomer and seismologist |
| Recipient | Larmor; Sir Joseph (1857-1942); Irish theoretical physicist |
| Date | 21 May 1913 |
| Description | Turner is just back from St. Petersburg and has found Larmor's letter. He thanks Larmor for continuing to discuss what was an undoubted blunder. He gives an account of how he saw it during the afternoon discussion with Larmor and [Arthur] Schuster. He set out the deliberate construction of three of four periodicities, exact submultiples of the total time. He would get three or four Fourier coefficients with finite values, and all others zero. The resulting diagram would be striking, and looks like a complete solution. Turner considers whether this would amount to a complete solution and his case fell short of ideal conditions. The practical question is, what is the value of Fourier analysis as a summary of observations; Turner thinks he has a rough answer but will not trouble Larmor with it yet. He concludes by noting that he had a good time in St. Petersburg. |
| Extent | 3p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA1105 | Turner; Herbert Hall (1861 - 1930); astronomer and seismologist | 1861 - 1930 |