496 



NA TURE 



[October 7, 1922 



A Florentine School of Physics and Optics. 

 By Dr. L. C. Martin. 



"THE city of Florence, deservedly famous as a 

 * place of pilgrimage for lovers of art, is no less 

 worthy of a visit on the part of students of science. 

 The famous Museo di Fisica, with its Tribuna di 

 Galilei and its collection of priceless instruments, will 

 always attract the lion's share of attention, but a 

 visit to the charming southern suburb of Arcctri, with 

 the astronomical observatory and the newly erected 

 Institute of Physics and Optics, will amply repay the 

 time spent in making it. 



On driving out from the city by the cypress avenue 

 of the Villa Poggio Imperiale, the observatory is seen 

 to the left crowning a lofty hill, on the side oi whi( h 

 the red roofs of the Institute can be seen among 

 the green of the surrounding gardens and vineyards. 

 A wide view over the peaceful countryside is obtained 

 on reaching the terrace. 



The building is of the square form with centre 



courtyard usual in Italy, and is only two stories high. 

 A cloister surrounds the courtyard on the ground 

 level, and above the cloister a "wide closed corridor 

 affords interconnexion between the rooms on the 

 upper floor. It is commonly held that a similar 

 form of building is not suitable for the British Isles 

 on account of the colder climate, but it may be 

 doubted whether this view is correct ; the arrange- 

 ment has in the present case certainly proved most 

 successful from many points of view. The rooms 

 and corridors are light and airy, while the building 

 is extremely compact and its low height makes for 

 stability. There is little or no trouble from vibra- 

 tion, all machinery being housed in one side of the 

 square at the back of the building. Lastly, and not 

 least, a way has been found to combine beauty with 

 utility, and it was not thought wasteful even in these 

 modern times to follow the charming traditions of 

 Florence by planting a garden to surround the well 

 in the courtyard. This is shown in Fig. i. 



The Institute was erected immediately after the 

 war to serve for post-graduate and research work in 

 physics and optics. The physical laboratories are 



NO. 2762, VOL. I IO] 



under the direction of Prof. A. Garbasso, who, during 

 the last year, has served as Mayor of Florence. The 

 optical laboratory is directed by Prof. A. Occhialini, 

 the well-known editor of the Revista d' Ottica. In the 

 coming year it is proposed to build an annexe devoted 

 entirely to technical optics. Up to the present the 

 teaching activity has been restricted to the physical 

 side, but courses on optical subjects are being arranged 

 and research and testing are already in progress. 

 Accommodation is provided for thirty to forty 

 students taking post - graduate courses in physics. 

 The present students are drawn largely from the 

 University of Pisa. 



In the course of a short visit it is scarcely possible 

 to notice all the features deserving attention. The 

 arx'angement of lecture theatre, class rooms, and 

 research rooms is generally excellent, and it is evident 

 that the needs of experimental work have been con- 

 sidered during design ; for example, 

 in one corner of the building it is 

 possible to obtain the equivalent 

 of a vertical circular shaft by 



■ removing the coverings of holes in 



the roof and floors, an arrange- 

 ment which is of the greatest value 

 in optical testing. 

 The usual wiring and switch- 

 board for the distribution of electric 

 current is provided, and there is 

 also a separate high-tension circuit. 

 Another point which seems admir- 

 able is the construction of the 

 roomy apparatus cupboards in 

 which three sides are of glass ; 

 they stand in the corridor on the 

 first floor and exhibit the appar- 

 atus to advantage, a matter of 

 importance in a teaching institu- 

 tion. 



In the matter of equipment 

 the usual lines have been gener- 

 ously followed. For example, the 

 optical apparatus includes 40 and 

 20 plate echelons with appro- 

 priate spectroscopes, a Fabry 

 and Perot interferometer, and a 

 Nutting spectrophotometer, all by A. Hilger, Ltd. 

 There is also a large spectrometer (with four reading 

 microscopes for the circle) by the Societe Genevoise. 

 Other branches of physics seem to be supplied in a 

 corresponding manner. Those who know something 

 of the present cost of equipment of this kind will ap- 

 preciate the intensity and vigour of the effort which 

 Italy is making in the founding of this Institute. 



lii Florence as in few other cities one loses that 

 sense of the remoteness of the past which oppresses 

 the mind in more modern surroundings, and the 

 splendour of bygone days seems still our own for 

 guidance and inspiration. Such thoughts find a fitting 

 expression in two frescoes which are seen on leaving 

 the Institute by the main staircase. On the one side 

 is seen Youth in the quietness and cool of the evening 

 drinking of the fountain of ancient wisdom, while 

 opposite we see Humanity in the glory of morning 

 sunlight pressing upwards with eagerness and hope 

 towards the hilltops. 



I am indebted to Profs. Occhialini and Garbasso 

 for photographs and information for the purposes of 

 this article. 



