612
P. Liu
8.28 Rayleigh (1842–1919)
Third Baron Rayleigh (1842–1919), was a British physicist and hydrologist, whose initial work was mainly the mathematical research of optical and
vibration systems. Later research almost involved all aspects of physics, such
as acoustics, wave theory, color vision, electrodynamics, electromagnetics,
light scattering, liquid flow, hydrodynamics, gas density, viscosity, capillary
action, elasticity, and photography. His persistent and precise experiments led
to the establishment of resistance standards, current standards, and electromotive force standards, and later work focused on electrical and magnetic
issues. Rayleigh had many achievements in mechanics. He had obtained
many important results in the theory of elastic vibration, including the estimation and calculation of the nature frequency of the system. He wrote two
volumes of the famous Theory of Acoustics (1877–1878), and systematically
summarized his achievements in the study of elastic vibration. In 1887, it was
first pointed out that there was a surface cover in elastic waves, which played
an important role in understanding the mechanism of earthquakes. He also
analyzed the convection caused by the temperature difference between the
upper and lower parts of the fluid, and introduced the relevant dimensionless
number (later called Rayleigh number), which can be used to explain some
meteorological phenomena caused by the surface atmospheric convection. In
addition, he had studied the propagation of finite-amplitude waves and the
resistance of gases to moving objects. In order to explain the long-standing
puzzle of why the sky appears blue, he derived the molecular scattering
formula, which is called Rayleigh scattering law. In the aspect of experiment,
he studied the resolution of grating and diffraction, and was the first one
gave a clear definition of the resolution of optical instrument; this work led
to a series of basic researches on the optical properties of spectrometer later,
which played an important role in the development of spectroscopy. The relationship between the absolute blackbody radiation and the frequency was a
common concern in the field of physics in the second half of the nineteenth
century. In 1900, Rayleigh put forward a formula about thermal radiation
from the perspective of statistical physics, which was later called Rayleigh–
Gins formula, the result was in good agreement with the experiment, and
provided the conditions for the emergence of quantum theory. Rayleigh paid
close attention to the emergence and development of quantum theory and
relativity. His research on acoustooptic interaction, mechanical motion mode,
nonlinear vibration, and other projects has a profound impact on the development of the whole physics. In 1905, he revised and published the work
Principles of Acoustics. Up to now, it is not only a classic work for acousticians
P. Liu
8.28 Rayleigh (1842–1919)
Third Baron Rayleigh (1842–1919), was a British physicist and hydrologist, whose initial work was mainly the mathematical research of optical and
vibration systems. Later research almost involved all aspects of physics, such
as acoustics, wave theory, color vision, electrodynamics, electromagnetics,
light scattering, liquid flow, hydrodynamics, gas density, viscosity, capillary
action, elasticity, and photography. His persistent and precise experiments led
to the establishment of resistance standards, current standards, and electromotive force standards, and later work focused on electrical and magnetic
issues. Rayleigh had many achievements in mechanics. He had obtained
many important results in the theory of elastic vibration, including the estimation and calculation of the nature frequency of the system. He wrote two
volumes of the famous Theory of Acoustics (1877–1878), and systematically
summarized his achievements in the study of elastic vibration. In 1887, it was
first pointed out that there was a surface cover in elastic waves, which played
an important role in understanding the mechanism of earthquakes. He also
analyzed the convection caused by the temperature difference between the
upper and lower parts of the fluid, and introduced the relevant dimensionless
number (later called Rayleigh number), which can be used to explain some
meteorological phenomena caused by the surface atmospheric convection. In
addition, he had studied the propagation of finite-amplitude waves and the
resistance of gases to moving objects. In order to explain the long-standing
puzzle of why the sky appears blue, he derived the molecular scattering
formula, which is called Rayleigh scattering law. In the aspect of experiment,
he studied the resolution of grating and diffraction, and was the first one
gave a clear definition of the resolution of optical instrument; this work led
to a series of basic researches on the optical properties of spectrometer later,
which played an important role in the development of spectroscopy. The relationship between the absolute blackbody radiation and the frequency was a
common concern in the field of physics in the second half of the nineteenth
century. In 1900, Rayleigh put forward a formula about thermal radiation
from the perspective of statistical physics, which was later called Rayleigh–
Gins formula, the result was in good agreement with the experiment, and
provided the conditions for the emergence of quantum theory. Rayleigh paid
close attention to the emergence and development of quantum theory and
relativity. His research on acoustooptic interaction, mechanical motion mode,
nonlinear vibration, and other projects has a profound impact on the development of the whole physics. In 1905, he revised and published the work
Principles of Acoustics. Up to now, it is not only a classic work for acousticians