Smith and Purcell: visible light from charges moving past a grating

What changed

Observed grating-associated visible light and wavelength-angle behavior.

Scientific scope

The record is the exact two-author 1953 Physical Review letter and its reported observation. It does not absorb later theoretical derivations, free-electron lasers or all radiation from charges near periodic structures.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record is the exact two-author 1953 Physical Review letter and its reported observation. It does not absorb later theoretical derivations, free-electron lasers or all radiation from charges near periodic structures.

Contributors

• S. J. Smith · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.
• E. M. Purcell · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• APS paper for Smith–Purcell visible light

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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