Does Invisible Light Exist?

doi:10.1117/3.2265065.ch15

Book: Optical Anecdotes

Author(s): D.J. Lovell

Published: 2004

https://doi.org/10.1117/3.2265065.ch15

Author Affiliations +

Abstract

The discovery of “invisible light” by William Herschel in 1800 not only incited contradictory responses from his peers, but caused Herschel to doubt its significance. Two decades earlier, the tenor of the times was such that his discovery of a new planet made considerable impact. But now scientists had become accustomed to the revelations of additional discoveries. The concepts of science were undergoing frequent revision. Nevertheless, invisible light seemed a contradiction of terms.