Edward Condon, the individual in focus.
In the summer of 1968, two significant events took place that would shape the study of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) for years to come. One was the publication of the Condon Report, a scientific study of UFO sightings, and the other was the "Symposium on Unidentified Flying Objects," organized by two different entities – the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS), founded by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, and the U.S. House Committee on Science and Astronautics.
The Condon Report, also known as the Colorado UFO Project, was a scientific study commissioned by the United States Air Force in 1966. The study was led by physicist Dr. Edward U. Condon, who earned his Ph.D. in Physics from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1926 under the supervision of Robert A. Millikan. Condon's doctoral research focused on the study of the photoelectric effect and Compton scattering.
Born on March 2, 1902, in Alamogordo, New Mexico, Condon played a significant role in the development of atomic weapons during World War II. After the war, he became the director of the National Bureau of Standards from 1945 to 1951.
The Franck-Condon principle, a fundamental concept in molecular spectroscopy, was co-authored by Condon and James Franck. This principle states that the most probable electronic transitions in molecules are those where the nuclei maintain the same relative positions, or where the vibrational wavefunctions of the initial and final states have the greatest overlap. The Franck-Condon principle helps to explain why certain electronic transitions in molecules are more intense than others in a given spectrum.
The Franck-Condon principle is graphically represented using potential energy curves for the two electronic states, with vertical lines connecting the vibrational levels representing the transitions. By analyzing the intensity distribution of the spectral lines, valuable information about the molecular structure and dynamics, as well as the nature of the electronic transitions involved, can be obtained.
Meanwhile, the "Symposium on Unidentified Flying Objects" held on July 29, 1968, was a significant event in the study of UFOs. While one was organized by CUFOS, the other was organized by the U.S. House Committee on Science and Astronautics. The Condon Report, published around the same time, concluded that UFO sightings could not be scientifically explained but that there was no evidence to suggest they were extraterrestrial in origin or a threat to national security.
The Condon Report led to the termination of Project Blue Book, a U.S. Air Force project that investigated UFO sightings, and significantly diminished government interest in UFO investigations. However, the interest in UFOs and unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP) has been revived in recent years, with Dr. Christopher "Kit" Green, a multifaceted researcher with a background in medicine, neuroscience, and national security, contributing to the ongoing conversation.
In conclusion, the Condon Report and the Franck-Condon principle have had profound impacts on their respective fields. The Condon Report has shaped the way we approach UFO sightings, while the Franck-Condon principle has provided a fundamental understanding of molecular spectroscopy. Despite the Condon Report's conclusion, the study of UFOs and UAP continues to captivate researchers and the general public alike.
