Subject: ORIGIN OF IDEA OF PE SURFACE?

From: "E. Lewars" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 15:28:27 -0500 (EST)

1997 Dec 11

Hello,

  Does anyone know when and how the idea of a potential energy surface came into
chemistry?
I think it was probably in the early 20th century, and it may have come from
19th century physics.  Or it may have evolved from the simple E vs. reaction
coordinate 2-dimensional diagram--who first used that?

  A PES may be viewed mathematically or pictorially, and the two viewpoints
need not have entered chemistry simultaneously:

 mathematically         E = f(x1,y1,z1; x2,y2,z2;....xn,yn,zn)

 pictorially                          E ^
                                        |
                                        |  With chicken wire draped over it
                                        |
                                        |
                                        |
                                        |
                                       / ------------------> q2
                                      /
                                     /
                                 . /
                                 ....
                              q1

          Thanks
           E. Lewars
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