Julius Plücker -- a path from geometry to optics (Q6082473)

In 1846 Julius Plücker announced to give up his research in mathematics, better in analytical geometry, to devote himself to physics. Since then many reasons have been offered to explain his at first sight sudden decision. In the present paper the author argues that Plücker's competition and arguments with Steiner do not necessarily provide the explanation for the former's change of field of research. Having sketched Plücker's education and his early career, the author describes Plücker's shift of interest by producing evidence for a new interpretation for his move from abstract analytic geometry to experimental physics, to optics in particular.