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New episode traces how the quantum was discovered

Original: New episode: How the Quantum Was Discovered. Rubens and Kurlbaum measure the light of a hot box with crystals of rock sa

A new history-of-science episode recounts the experimental breakthrough behind quantum theory. In autumn 1900, Rubens and Kurlbaum measured the light emitted by a heated cavity using rock salt crystals and found that Wien's radiation law failed. Rubens told Planck on 7 October; by that evening Planck had found his formula, and on 14 December he introduced the quantum of energy.

Why now: The episode retells one of the most pivotal moments in modern physics, when Planck first proposed the quantum.

Max PlanckHeinrich RubensFerdinand Kurlbaumquantum theory

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• New episode: How the Quantum Was Discovered. Rubens and Kurlbaum measure the light of a hot box with crystals of rock salt, and Wien's law fails. On Sunday 7 October Rubens tells Planck; that evening Planck finds the formula and posts it on a card. On 14 December he counts the… · principiah · 1

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