Crystals

The recent paper of John Strong on “Experimental Infrared Spectroscopy” (Physics Today, April, 1951) is an interesting contribution to the subject of useful infrared techniques. It contains some historic remarks upon which I should like to elaborate. As a summer session graduate assistant to Dr. H. M. Randall, it was my privilege to initiate, at his request, crystal growing research for infrared spectroscopy at the East Physics Laboratory of the University of Michigan in the summer of 1927. After growing some alkali halide crystals from aqueous solutions on a mercury surface, I concentrated on KC1 crystallization from the melts. A crucible was slowly lowered out of an electric furnace by a reduction gear mechanism to minimize supercooling of the melt and assure the formation of only a few crystal seeds. In spite of the crude technique, I produced a fairly clear 7 mm single crystal cube of sylvine. This proved the feasibility of the approach. However, I had to return to the University of Pittsburgh to continue my PhD work. My laboratory room in the third basement of East Physics Building was later occupied by Mr. Strong who continued this research and grew larger and clearer crystals.

This article is only available in PDF format