Johannes Stark
German physicist, 1874-1957
"Johannes Stark was a German physicist and Physics Nobel Prize laureate for his ""discovery of the Doppler effect in canal rays and the splitting of spectral lines in electric fields"" (the latter is known as the Stark effect). Stark was closely involved with the Deutsche Physik movement under the Nazi regime. In 1947, following the defeat of Germany in World War II, Stark was classified as a ""Major Offender"" and received a sentence of four years’ imprisonment (later suspended) by a denazification court."
Source: Wikipedia
Physiker und Nobelpreisträger (1874–1957). Autograph letter signed („Stark“). Ullersricht bei Weiden in der Oberpfalz. 2 SS. auf Doppelblatt. Gr.-8vo.
$ 4,824 / 4.500 €
(24140)
Letter to German experimental physicist Ernst Gehrcke concerning a demonstration of the so-called Stark effect, the shifting and splitting of spectral lines of atoms and molecules due to presence of an external electric field. In part (translated): “I am pleased that you wish to pursue my suggestion. It seems to me that the polarization of light emission is important enough to serve as the subject of numerous investigations….Together with my old college friend von Hirsch [the physicist and chemist Rudolf von Hirsch], I am currently testing some recent obscure experiments.
One of them is to involve the tube you indicated to ‘demonstrate the Stark effect.’ Your note mentioned that you were able to obtain such a tube, ready for use, from the glass-blower Lenz. It is of great importance to me that I obtain the tube as soon as possible….Lenz is to attach particular importance to careful packing, so that the electrode mounts are not broken off by sudden jolts.” In fine condition, with some mild diagonal creases and a couple trivial edge tears. With excellent scientific content, discussing his most important scientific work and continuing experimentation with light emission, this is a remarkable letter from the start of Stark’s controversial shift from physics to politics..
Physiker und Nobelpreisträger (1874–1957). Eigenhändiger Brief mit Unterschrift. Aachen. Gr.-8vo. 2 1/2 pp. Doppelblatt. Gedr. Briefkopf.
$ 6,968 / 6.500 €
(83492)
Bedeutender Brief einen Kollegen aus dem Jahr seiner Entdeckung, die ihm später den Nobelpreis einbringen sollte: „Für Ihre freundlichen Zeilen sage ich Ihnen herzlichen Dank. Ihre Anerkennung ist mir wertvoll. Ich habe für Spektrallinien anderer Elemente als H und He, auch für Bandenlinien, bereits eine Reihe von Beobachtungen gesammelt. Sie sind zum Teil kurios; ehe ich darüber etwas mitteile, möchte ich durch Vermehrung des Beobachtungsmaterials die Kuriositäten durch Gesetzmäßigkeiten ersetzen.
Dank einer eleganten Methode konnte ich jedoch unterdes die Untersuchung des Loogitainaleffektes für H und He zum Abschluß bringen. Wie zu erwarten war, sind die Komponenten im Längseffekt unpolarisiert und haben dieselbe spektrale Lage wie die normal zum Feld schwingenden Komponenten im Quereffekt. Die ueberstehende Zeichnung giebt einen Überblick über diese Verhältnisse bei H […]“ - Auf der 3. Seite mit einer Zeichnung „der Effekt auf H“. Johannes Stark Autograph Letter Signed. Three pages of a bifolium, 5.5" x 8.75", Aachen, [Germany]; December 10, 1913. Addressed to Nobel Prize winning physicist Wilhelm Wien. Written in German the year he discovered the Stark Effect for which he earned the Nobel Prize in 1919. This letter features a drawing of the Stark Effect as it applies to hydrogen as well as Stark's observations of the process. It reads in part [English translation]: "...I already collected a number of observations concerning the spectral lines of elements other than H and He, and for band lines as well. Partly they are odd, but before I share anything about this, I would like to increase the observed material in order to replace the oddities with regularities. Meanwhile, thanks to an elegant method, I was able to conclude the investigation of the longitudinal effects for H and He. As was to be expected, the congruents in the longitudinal effect are unpolarized and have the same spectral position as the congruents oscillating normally to the field in the transverse effect. The adjacent drawing gives an overview of these conditions at Hy..." Signed, "J. Stark." Condition: Smoothed creasing and mail fold. Very lightly rubbed on verso..
Physiker und Nobelpreisträger (1874-1957). Autograph postcard signed ("J. Stark"). Göttingen. 09.09.1903. ½ S. 8vo.
$ 3,752 / 3.500 €
(49482/BN33885)
To the Austrian physicist Stefan Meyer from the Institute for Radium Research concerning an essay which he had sent him.