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New Episode Tells How Planck Discovered the Quantum

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 podcast episode recounts the experimental story behind the discovery of the quantum. In 1900, Rubens and Kurlbaum measured the light emitted by a heated cavity using rock salt crystals, showing that Wien's radiation law failed. When Rubens told Planck on 7 October, Planck found his formula that same evening, announcing the quantum idea in December.

Why now: Physics enthusiasts are sharing the episode's retelling of the pivotal 1900 experiments that led Planck to quantum theory.

Max PlanckHeinrich RubensFerdinand Kurlbaumquantum theoryPrincipia

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Evidence

• 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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