Pieter Zeeman quotes

Pieter Zeeman was a Dutch physicist renowned for discovering the Zeeman effect, which describes the splitting of spectral lines in the presence of a magnetic field. This discovery provided crucial evidence for the theory of atomic structure. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking work. Here are 9 of his quotes:

The magnetic cleavage of the spectral lines is dependent on the size of the charge of the electron, or, more accurately, on the ratio between the mass and the charge of the electron.

Pieter Zeeman

Nature gives us all, including Prof. Lorentz, surprises. It was very quickly found that there are many exceptions to the rule of splitting of the lines only into triplets.

Pieter Zeeman

The rotation of the polarization plane is extraordinarily small in all gases, thus also in sodium vapour.

Pieter Zeeman

Now if this electron is displaced from its equilibrium position, a force that is directly proportional to the displacement restores it like a pendulum to its position of rest.

Pieter Zeeman

It was not simply out of a spirit of contradiction that I exposed a light source to magnetic forces. The idea came to me during an investigation of the effect discovered by Kerr on light reflected by magnetic mirrors.

Pieter Zeeman

On the basis of Lorentz's theory, if we limit ourselves to a single spectral line, it suffices to assume that each atom (or molecule) contains a single moving electron.

Pieter Zeeman

Moreover, photography has made it possible to fix these images and now provides us with a permanent record of each observed spectrum, which can be measured out at any time.

Pieter Zeeman

I count myself fortunate to be able to contribute to this work; and the great interest which the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has shown in my work and the recognition that it has paid to my past successes, convince me that I am not on the wrong track.

Pieter Zeeman