Journal of History of Science, JAPAN
Online ISSN : 2435-0524
Print ISSN : 2188-7535
Planck's Derivation of Transition Probabilities and Einstein's Quantum Theory of Radiation
[in Japanese]
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2009 Volume 48 Issue 252 Pages 204-213

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Abstract
In 1916 Einstein considered a thermal equilibrium between blackbody radiation and gas molecules in a cavity. On this occasion he introduced probability coefficients A and B of spontaneous and induced transitions, respectively. Then, he derived the ratio A/B (Eq. (4) in the text). With respect to this, Planck, in the fourth edition of his book (1921), Lectures on the Heat Radiation, derived the individual equation of A (Eq. (13)). Furthermore, it is quite interesting that in the course of derivation Planck introduced the substitution of a difference quotient (Eq. (11)) for a differential one (Eq. (9)). Thus, it should be noted that Planck employed this mathematical manipulation earlier than Kramers. This paper also argues that Planck's idea of difference quotient stems from the energy fluctuation based on the Fokker equation (7).
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© 2009 History of Science Society of Japan
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