| Reference number | MS/603/1/94 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from Ludwig Boltzmann, Turkenstrasse 3, Wien IX, to [Joseph Larmor] |
| Creator | Boltzmann; Ludwig Eduard (1844-1906); Austrian physicist |
| Date | 7 January 1900 |
| Description | Before he replies to Larmor, he will think it over a little, so that he can answer more precisely. He has much work to do with the Natural Sciences Assembly in Munich and in Vienna, and he is horrified to see that so much time has passed. He has been looking at models, including a device with which sculptors reproduce in marble, figures first worked in wax. There is a process called 'Moulange' used by anatomists to reproduce healthy and diseased parts of the body, and he has seen a procedure in which organic structures are plastically constructed. He has also been to the Vienna Polytechnic to look at architectural and engineering models, and endless varieties of machine models. He realised that the items in Vienna were outdated in comparison with the models in London and America. He confesses that he does not much understand the mathematical modelling of algebraic surfaces. The wave surface of light in diatomic crystals would be of more general interest. He wonders if it is wise to bring up their equation, or to explain something more about Cornish refraction. He does not know how much he can justify mathematically in models for the electromagnetic theory of light, asking for articles from Encyclopaedia Britannica. He fears that although he will put in effort, the article will not turn out well and therefore he would prefer it if Larmor could take over the article completely and hand it over to an Englishman. If not, he would need very precise instructions. What he could write about technical and machine models would be incomplete and would have to be supplemented by an English technician in any case. He hopes that Larmor will understand his letter written in German, as it would be difficult for him to write correctly in English, although he reads the language without difficulty. |
| Language | German |
| Extent | 4p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| Physical description | Ink on paper |
| Access status | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | Name | Dates |
| NA7610 | Boltzmann; Ludwig (1844 - 1906) | 1844 - 1906 |