Peter Debye: Comment on the Preceding Article by E. Gehrcke: ‘How the Energy Distribution of Black-Body Radiation Was Really Found’ [May 4, 1936]

Abstract

My opinion of the importance of M. Planck’s work does not in any way concur with that of the foregoing article. I am cited because I have expressed the opinion that when seen from a logical standpoint and when supported by the then current knowledge, the derivation of Planck’s radiation formula is not flawless. This is correct. But it is precisely in this fact that I see great merit. A lot of courage and an intimate feel for nature was needed to overcome all constraints and to give us the idea of the energy quantum and the quantum of action. This was true theoretical physics, which I also readily rank above mathematical physics. How magnificently Planck has been borne out by the developments is most evident, incidentally, when you try to imagine how deficient today’s physics would be without Planck’s quantum of action.