go THE QUANTUM [vi. 3
The experimental basis for the supposition of molecular
orientation in polyatomic gases is thus rendered very uncertain ;
in any case Glaser’s explanation is not altogether satisfactory, for
as Pauli * * * * § has pointed out, the total quantum numbers for the
majority of the molecules, and therefore the numbers of possible
orientations, are so large that the molecules might almost be
regarded as orientated in all directions. The same argument
tells against any alteration of refractive index of such a gas on
applying a magnetic field transversely to the direction of propaga
tion of the light. Ghosh and Mahanti f have reported such an
alteration in the refractive index of carbon dioxide, but this is
not confirmed by Appleyard.J Krishnan § has searched for a
double refraction under the same conditions as those in the
experiments of Ghosh and Mahanti, but the results were uniformly
negative.
REFERENCE
C. G. Darwin (Proc. Roy. Soc., vol. 117, p. 258, 1927) has treated the
theory of the Stern-Gerlach experiment from the standpoint of the new
undulatory mechanics, and has shown that a satisfactory explanation
of the results is obtained by treating the electron as a wave.
* Pauli, Phys. Zeits., vol. 26, p. 217, 1925.
t Ghosh and Mahanti, Nature, vol. 118, p. 734, 1926.
% Appleyard, Nature, vol. 119, p. 353, 1927.
§ Krishnan, Proc. Ind. Assoc. Cult. Sci., vol. 10, p. 35, 1926.