This book explores Christiaan Huygens' wave theory of light as presented in his 1690 work, Traité de la Lumière. It examines the development of his ideas within the broader context of optics and dioptrics, utilizing manuscript sources to illuminate Huygens' mathematical analysis of lenses and telescopes, enriching the understanding of seventeenth-century science.
Christiaan Huygens and the Mathematical Science of Optics in the Seventeenth Century
Focusing on Christiaan Huygens' groundbreaking wave theory of light, this book traces the evolution of his ideas leading to the publication of Traité de la Lumière in 1690. It utilizes a comprehensive range of manuscript sources to contextualize Huygens' work within his broader optical theories, particularly his mathematical analysis of lenses and telescopes. By examining the interplay between theory and practical application in Huygens' dioptrics, the book enriches the understanding of seventeenth-century optics and the development of mathematical sciences.