390
CONSTITUTION
OF
RADIATION
used
for
calculating
W.
This
requires that
for all v's
to
which
corresponds
a
perceptible
energy
density
p,
the
energy
quantum
e
be
small
compared
with
the
mean
energy
of
the
resonators E.
However,
one
finds
by
simple
calcula-
tion that for the
wavelength
of 0.5
u
and
absolute
temperature
T
=
1700,
e/E
is
not
only
not
small
compared
to
l,
but is in fact
very
large
compared
to
it. Its value is
about
6.5
x
107. Thus,
in
the numerical
example pre-
sented,
we
must proceed
with
the
counting
of
the
complexions
as
though
the
energy
of the
resonators
could
only
assume
the value
zero,
the
6.5
x
107-fold
of
its
mean
energy
value,
or a
multiple of
this. It is clear that if
we
proceed
in this
manner, we use
for
the
calculation
of
the
entropy
only
a
vanishingly
small
part
of those
energy
distributions that
we
must
consider
as
possible
according to
the foundations
of
the
theory. Thus, according to
the
foundations of the
theory,
the
number
of these
complexions
is
not
an
expres-
sion for
the probability of
the
state in
Boltzmann's
sense.
In
my
opinion,
to
accept
Planck's
theory
means
plainly to
reject
the foundations
of
our
radia-
tion
theory.
I have
already
tried
to
show
that
our
current
foundations of the radia-
tion
theory must
be abandoned.
At
any
rate,
there
can
be
no
question
of
rejecting
Planck's
theory
on
the
grounds
that it
does not
fit these founda-
tions. This
theory
led
to
a
determination
of
the
elementary quanta
that
has
been splendidly confirmed
by
the
most
recent measurements of these quantities
based
on
the
counting
of
a-particles.
For
the
elementary
quantum
of
electri-
city Rutherford
and Geiger
obtained
on
the
average a
value
of
4.65
.
10-10
[25]
and
Regener
4.79
.
10-10,
while
Mr.
Planck with the aid
of
his radiation
theory
obtained
from
the
constants of
the radiation formula the intermediate
[26]
value 4.69
.
10-10.
Planck's
theory
leads
to
the
following
conjecture. If it is really
true
that
a
radiation
resonator
can
only
assume energy
values that
are a
multiple
of
hv,
then
it is
logical to
assume
that emission
and
absorption of
radiation
can
take
place
only
in quanta of
this
energy
value.
On
the basis
of
this
[27]
hypothesis,
the
hypothesis
of light quanta,
one can answer
the
questions
raised
above
regarding
the
absorption and
emission
of
radiation.
As
far
as we
know,
the
quantitative
consequences
of
this
hypothesis
of light
quanta
are
also
being
confirmed.
The following question
arises then. Isn't it conceiv-
able that Planck's formula is
correct,
but that nevertheless
a
derivation
of