An Undulatory Theory of the Mechanics of Atoms and Molecules

The paper gives an account of the author's work on a new form of quantum theory. {}1. The Hamiltonian analogy between mechanics and optics. {}2. The analogy is to be extended to include real "physical" or "undulatory" mechanics instead of mere geometrical mechanics. {}3. The significance of wave-length; macro-mechanical and micro-mechanical problems. {}4. The wave-equation and its application to the hydrogen atom. {}5. The intrinsic reason for the appearance of discrete characteristic frequencies. {}6. Other problems; intensity of emitted light. {}7. The wave-equation derived from a Hamiltonian variation-principle; generalization to an arbitrary conservative system. {}8. The wave-function physically means and determines a continuous distribution of electricity in space, the fluctuations of which determine the radiation by the laws of ordinary electrodynamics. {}9. Non-conservative systems. Theory of dispersion and scattering and of the "transitions" between the "stationary states." {}10. The question of relativity and the action of a magnetic field. Incompleteness of that part of the theory.