The Structure of the Line of Wave-Length 4686 A.U.

Abstract

PREVIOUS experiments by one of us (NATURE, vol. xcii., p. 5; Phil. Mag., vol. xxix., pp. 284—297, 1915) have shown that the 4686 line could be obtained by passing a condenser discharge through pure helium, and it was concluded that the results supported a theory put forward by Dr. Bohr (Phil Mag., vol. xxvi., p. 1, 1913). This theory, which was deduced by applying the quantum hypothesis to Sir Ernest Rutherford's atom-model, ascribed the line to helium. On the other hand, Rydberg, assuming the Pickering lines to constitute the sharp series of hydrogen from analogy with the spectra of the alkali metals, obtained by calculation the value 4687.88 for the wave-length of the first line of the principal series of hydrogen.