Communications from the Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory

These are the first 40 Communications from the Laboratory of Physics at the University of Leiden, directed by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes. The articles cover the founding years 1885-1898 of what would later be called the Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory. Among the highlights are the reports of his colleague Johannes Kuenen on the discovery of retrograde condensation, an effect that was implicit in the theoretical work of Van der Waals but still came as a surprise. Then there are the first articles of Pieter Zeeman, who would go on to win, with Hendrik Lorentz, the 1902 Nobel prize for the effect that would bear his name. The brief reports of the experiments are followed by a commentary on the priority of his observations (Communication Nr. 36).
A curiosity is the optical effect in the eye reported by Zeeman in Communication Nr. 5. Has this effect received further attention?
These 40 early Communications were published privately by Kamerlingh Onnes, for distribution among international colleagues. (Read the announcement in Nature.) They are online here, with thanks to Peter Kes. The later ones, from June 1898 onward, were included in the Proceedings of the Royal Academy of Sciences (KNAW) and are online there.

Communications Nr. 1-12 (1885-1894).

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R. Sissingh, Measurements concerning the elliptic polarization of light.
L.M.J. Stoel, Measurements on the influence of temperature on the viscosity of fluids between the boiling point and the critical state.
R. Sissingh, On Kerr's magnetooptic phenomenon in the case of equatorial magnetization of Iron.
J.P. Kuenen, Measurements concerning the surface of Van der Waals for mixtures ot carbonic acid and methylchloride.
J.P. Kuenen, On retrograde condensation and the critical phenomena of mixtures of two substances.
P. Zeeman, Measurements on Kerr's phenomenon in the case of reflexion from the polar surface of a magnet made of iron, cobalt and nickel.
P. Zeeman, Measurement on Kerr's phenomenon in the case of reflexion from the polar surface of a magnet made of cobalt at different angles of incidence.
P. Zeeman, On a subjective phenomenon in the eye.
E.C. de Vries, Measurements on the influence of temperature on the capillary elevation of ether between the critical state and the boiling point of ethylene.
J.P. Kuenen, Some experiments about the connection between the two plaits in the surface of Van der Waals for mixtures.
L.H. Siertsema, The dispersion of the magnetic rotation in oxygen.
P. Zeeman, Comparison of measurements on the reflexion of light from the polar surface of a magnet with the theories of Goldhammer and Drude.
J.P. Kuenen, On the abnormal phenomena near the critical point.
C.H. Wind, Measurements regarding the Sissingh magneto-optical phase difference in the case of polar reflexion from nickel.
P. Zeeman, The phase in the case of polar reflexion from cobalt and nickel and the angle of reversal of the null rotation according to theory and experiment.
J.P. Kuenen, Some experiments regarding the anomalous phenomena near the critical point.
J.P. Kuenen, Further experiments regarding the anomalous phenomena near the critical point.
M. de Haas, Measurements concerning the coefficient of viscosity of methyl chloride in absolute measure between the boiling point and the critical state.
H. Kamerlingh Onnes, The coefficients of viscosity for fluids in corresponding states.
H. Kamerlingh Onnes, On the coefficient of viscosity of liquids in corresponding states according to calculations by Dr. M. de Haas.

Communications Nr. 13-24 (1894-1896).

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J.P. Kuenen, On the condensation of a mixture of two gases.
H. Kamerlingh Onnes, On the cryogenic laboratory at Leiden and on the production of very low temperatures.
P. Zeeman, Measurements concerning Kerr's phenomenon with normal polar reflection from iron and cobalt.
P. Zeeman, On the determination of the optical constants of magnetite.
L.H. Siertsema, On the dispersion of the magnetic rotation in oxygen.
A. Lebret, The variation of the Hall-effect with temperature.
J.P. Kuenen, On the condensation and the critical phenomena of mixtures of ethane and nitrous oxide.
J.P. Kuenen, On the influence of gravitation on the critical phenomena of simple substances and of mixtures.
J. Verschaffelt, Measurements concerning the capillary ascension of liquefied gases.
A. Lebret, A new method for measuring the Hall effect, especially the variation of it with temperature.
A. Lebret, Dissymmetry of the Hall-effect in bismuth for the opposite directions of the magnetic field.
A. Lebret, Variation of the Hall-effect in bismuth with temperature (including an investigation on the variation of the electric resistance in bismuth with temperature).
P. Zeeman, Measurement of the refractive index of incandescent platinum.
E. Cohn and P. Zeeman, Observations concerning the propagation of electrical waves in water.
P. Zeeman, Measurements concerning the absorption of electrical vibrations in electrolytes.
P. Zeeman, Measurements of the absorption of electrical vibrations in different electrolytes.
H. Kamerlingh Onnes, Remarks on the liquefaction of hydrogen, on thermodynamical similarity and on the use of vacuum vessels.
L.H. Siertsema, Measurements on the magnetic rotatory dispersion in gases.
L.H. Siertsema, Measurements on the magnetic rotatory dispersion in gases (addendum).

Communications Nr. 25-36 (1896-1897).

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H. Kamerlingh Onnes, A device for illuminating scales read by reflexion.
E. van Everdingen, Remarks on the method for the observation of the Hall-effect.
E. van Everdingen, Measurements concerning the dissymmetry of the Hall-effect in bismuth, and the mean Hall-effect in bismuth and antimony.
H. Kamerlingh Onnes, On the measurement of very low temperatures.
J. Verschaffelt, Measurements on capillary ascension of liquefied carbonic acid near the critical temperature.
P. Zeeman, Measurements concerning the influence of a magnetization, perpendicular to the plane of incidence on the light reflected from an iron mirror.
P. Zeeman, Measurements concerning the variation of the absorption of electrical vibrations with the wavelength and with the concentration of the electrolyte.
L.H. Siertsema, A determination of the magnetic rotatory constant of water.
L.H. Siertsema, Measurements on the magnetic rotatory dispersion in gases.
J. Verschaffelt, On capillary ascension between two cylindrical tubes.
P. Zeeman, On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance. (Part I).
P. Zeeman, On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance (Part II).
L.H. Siertsema, On thermal coefficients of aneroids of Naudet.
L.H. Siertsema, On the effect of pressure on the natural rotation of the plane of polarisation in solutions of cane-sugar.
P. Zeeman, On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance (Appendix).

Communications Nr. 37-40 (1897-1898).

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E. van Everdingen, On the increase of the resistance of bismuth in the magnetic field, in connection with the dissemetry of the Hall-effect.
E. van Everdingen, On the relation between the crystallographic directions and the resistance, the magnetic increase of resistance and the Hall-effect in bismuth.
L.H. Siertsema. On the effect of pressure on the natural rotation of the plane of polarisation in solutions of cane-sugar. (continued)
A. van Eldik, Measurements of the capillary ascension of the liquid phase of a mixture of two substances in equilibrium with the gaseous phase.
E. van Everdingen, On the Hall effect and the magnetic increase of resistance in bismuth.

Communications Nr. 1-12 (1885-1894).
Table of Contents Complete volume (16 MB)		R. Sissingh, Measurements concerning the elliptic polarization of light. L.M.J. Stoel, Measurements on the influence of temperature on the viscosity of fluids between the boiling point and the critical state. R. Sissingh, On Kerr's magnetooptic phenomenon in the case of equatorial magnetization of Iron. J.P. Kuenen, Measurements concerning the surface of Van der Waals for mixtures ot carbonic acid and methylchloride. J.P. Kuenen, On retrograde condensation and the critical phenomena of mixtures of two substances. P. Zeeman, Measurements on Kerr's phenomenon in the case of reflexion from the polar surface of a magnet made of iron, cobalt and nickel. P. Zeeman, Measurement on Kerr's phenomenon in the case of reflexion from the polar surface of a magnet made of cobalt at different angles of incidence. P. Zeeman, On a subjective phenomenon in the eye. E.C. de Vries, Measurements on the influence of temperature on the capillary elevation of ether between the critical state and the boiling point of ethylene. J.P. Kuenen, Some experiments about the connection between the two plaits in the surface of Van der Waals for mixtures. L.H. Siertsema, The dispersion of the magnetic rotation in oxygen. P. Zeeman, Comparison of measurements on the reflexion of light from the polar surface of a magnet with the theories of Goldhammer and Drude. J.P. Kuenen, On the abnormal phenomena near the critical point. C.H. Wind, Measurements regarding the Sissingh magneto-optical phase difference in the case of polar reflexion from nickel. P. Zeeman, The phase in the case of polar reflexion from cobalt and nickel and the angle of reversal of the null rotation according to theory and experiment. J.P. Kuenen, Some experiments regarding the anomalous phenomena near the critical point. J.P. Kuenen, Further experiments regarding the anomalous phenomena near the critical point. M. de Haas, Measurements concerning the coefficient of viscosity of methyl chloride in absolute measure between the boiling point and the critical state. H. Kamerlingh Onnes, The coefficients of viscosity for fluids in corresponding states. H. Kamerlingh Onnes, On the coefficient of viscosity of liquids in corresponding states according to calculations by Dr. M. de Haas.
Communications Nr. 13-24 (1894-1896).
Table of Contents Complete volume (26 MB)		J.P. Kuenen, On the condensation of a mixture of two gases. H. Kamerlingh Onnes, On the cryogenic laboratory at Leiden and on the production of very low temperatures. P. Zeeman, Measurements concerning Kerr's phenomenon with normal polar reflection from iron and cobalt. P. Zeeman, On the determination of the optical constants of magnetite. L.H. Siertsema, On the dispersion of the magnetic rotation in oxygen. A. Lebret, The variation of the Hall-effect with temperature. J.P. Kuenen, On the condensation and the critical phenomena of mixtures of ethane and nitrous oxide. J.P. Kuenen, On the influence of gravitation on the critical phenomena of simple substances and of mixtures. J. Verschaffelt, Measurements concerning the capillary ascension of liquefied gases. A. Lebret, A new method for measuring the Hall effect, especially the variation of it with temperature. A. Lebret, Dissymmetry of the Hall-effect in bismuth for the opposite directions of the magnetic field. A. Lebret, Variation of the Hall-effect in bismuth with temperature (including an investigation on the variation of the electric resistance in bismuth with temperature). P. Zeeman, Measurement of the refractive index of incandescent platinum. E. Cohn and P. Zeeman, Observations concerning the propagation of electrical waves in water. P. Zeeman, Measurements concerning the absorption of electrical vibrations in electrolytes. P. Zeeman, Measurements of the absorption of electrical vibrations in different electrolytes. H. Kamerlingh Onnes, Remarks on the liquefaction of hydrogen, on thermodynamical similarity and on the use of vacuum vessels. L.H. Siertsema, Measurements on the magnetic rotatory dispersion in gases. L.H. Siertsema, Measurements on the magnetic rotatory dispersion in gases (addendum).
Communications Nr. 25-36 (1896-1897).
Table of Contents Complete volume (22 MB)		H. Kamerlingh Onnes, A device for illuminating scales read by reflexion. E. van Everdingen, Remarks on the method for the observation of the Hall-effect. E. van Everdingen, Measurements concerning the dissymmetry of the Hall-effect in bismuth, and the mean Hall-effect in bismuth and antimony. H. Kamerlingh Onnes, On the measurement of very low temperatures. J. Verschaffelt, Measurements on capillary ascension of liquefied carbonic acid near the critical temperature. P. Zeeman, Measurements concerning the influence of a magnetization, perpendicular to the plane of incidence on the light reflected from an iron mirror. P. Zeeman, Measurements concerning the variation of the absorption of electrical vibrations with the wavelength and with the concentration of the electrolyte. L.H. Siertsema, A determination of the magnetic rotatory constant of water. L.H. Siertsema, Measurements on the magnetic rotatory dispersion in gases. J. Verschaffelt, On capillary ascension between two cylindrical tubes. P. Zeeman, On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance. (Part I). P. Zeeman, On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance (Part II). L.H. Siertsema, On thermal coefficients of aneroids of Naudet. L.H. Siertsema, On the effect of pressure on the natural rotation of the plane of polarisation in solutions of cane-sugar. P. Zeeman, On the influence of magnetism on the nature of the light emitted by a substance (Appendix).
Communications Nr. 37-40 (1897-1898).
Table of Contents Complete volume (8 MB)		E. van Everdingen, On the increase of the resistance of bismuth in the magnetic field, in connection with the dissemetry of the Hall-effect. E. van Everdingen, On the relation between the crystallographic directions and the resistance, the magnetic increase of resistance and the Hall-effect in bismuth. L.H. Siertsema. On the effect of pressure on the natural rotation of the plane of polarisation in solutions of cane-sugar. (continued) A. van Eldik, Measurements of the capillary ascension of the liquid phase of a mixture of two substances in equilibrium with the gaseous phase. E. van Everdingen, On the Hall effect and the magnetic increase of resistance in bismuth.