Was Felix Bloch's work on ferromagnetism controversial?
Some of my early theoretical work, particularly on the behavior of electrons in metals, aimed to reconcile quantum mechanics with the observed properties of solids. In my 1930 paper on the electrical conductivity of metals, I introduced the concept of "Bloch waves" – wave functions describing electrons in a periodic potential. This was a departure from treating electrons as entirely free. While foundational, it was a novel idea that required careful consideration and experimental verification. The implications for understanding band structure and conductivity were significant, and like any new theoretical framework, it invited scrutiny and further investigation to solidify its place in solid-state physics.
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