WMU Research Guides: PHYS 3100: Intro to Modern Physics Lab: Relevant Papers

Classic papers on physics phenomena and concepts

The following are some suggested papers to trace some of the history of physics concepts. Some of the papers you may find for free on the web, but most should be available through the library.

Bonzel, & Kleint, C. (1995). On the history of photoemission. Progress in Surface Science, 49(2), 107–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/0079-6816(95)00035-W
On the photoelectric effect history.
Dos Santos, J.M. F., et al. (2010). The size of the proton. Nature, 466(7303), 213–16. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09250.
On the evolution of the Rydberg Constant.
Geiger, H., & Marsden, E. (1909). On a diffuse reflection of the α-particles. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Containing Papers of a Mathematical and Physical Character, 82(557), 495–500. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.1909.0054
On the Rutherford Scattering experiment.
Hall, E. H. (1879). On a new action of the magnet on electric currents. American Journal of Mathematics. 2(3), 287–292. doi:10.2307/2369245
On the Hall Effect.
Kragh, H. (1997). The origin of radioactivity: From solvable problem to unsolved non-problem. Archive for History of Exact Sciences, 50(3/4), 331–58. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00374597.
A historical analysis of the attempts to explain radioactivity in terms of atomic models in the period from about 1903 to 1913.
Planck, M. (1901). On the law of distribution of energy in the normal spectrum. Annalen der Physik, 4, 553.
On the development of Planck's constant. (English Translation of original paper.)
Rutherford, E. ( 1911). The Scattering of α and β Particles by Matter and the Structure of the Atom, Philosophical Magazine. Series 6. 21.
On the Rutherford Effect.
Thomson, J.J. (1897). Cathode Rays. Philosophical Magazine, 44, 293-316 .
On the calculation of the mass-to-charge ratio of the electron. Also available online here.