@article{WANG2025, 
author = {Rui WANG and Huijuan ZHU},
title = {An important experiment to test quantum mechanics: Foster's Stark effect experiment},
year = {2025},
journal = {Journal of Capital Normal University (Natural Science Edition)},
volume = {46},
number = {6},
pages = {88-95},
keywords = {Stark effect, John Stuart Foster, quantum mechanics, experiment and theory},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.19789/j.1004-9398.2025.06.012},
doi = {10.19789/j.1004-9398.2025.06.012},
abstract = {In the development history of quantum mechanics, people usually focus on the progress of theory and often overlook the role and significance of experiments. The Stark effect, as an important quantum mechanical phenomenon, has attracted widespread attention since its discovery due to its inability to be explained by the atomic model of old quantum theory. The Stark effect has played a crucial role in the transition from old quantum theory to quantum mechanics. This article focuses on the contributions of Canadian physicist Foster in the study of the Stark effect, examining in detail Foster's Stark effect experiments conducted in the 1920s, including improvements in the experimental setup and innovations in technical methods, and exploring how the experimental results provide support for the validation of quantum mechanics. Meanwhile, this article also analyzes how Foster's theoretical work in the study of Stark effect has expanded the explanatory power of quantum mechanics. Through the discussion of the combination of experiment and theory, this paper aims to reveal the important influence of Forster's work in the establishment of quantum mechanics, and clarify the significance of the close connection between experiment and theory.}
}