Recherches sur la Constitution des Spectra d'Émission des Éléments Chimiques.

£850 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

the precursor to bohr's quantum theory First edition of this significant work that lays out the empirical formulae governing the frequencies of atomic spectral lines, a precursor to Bohr's development of the quantum theory. A handsomely bound copy in excellent condition, and rare in commerce. Atomic spectra are bright or dark lines that appear across the visible spectrum indicating the wavelengths of light emitted or absorbed when atoms are energised by photons. Each element produces a different series of lines, and these can be used to determine the chemical components of a substance on Earth, or even of a star or a distant planet's atmosphere. Inspired by Mendeleev's periodic table, Johannes Rydberg (1854-1919) was convinced that the electromagnetic spectra emitted by atoms could provide insight into atomic structure and theory. 'Notwithstanding the imperfect spectroscopic tables then at his disposal, Rydberg discovered most of the important properties of series spectra, including the relation between corresponding series in the spectra of related elements, and foreshadowed discoveries which were made later, when experimental work has sufficiently advanced. Some of the features noted by Rydberg were observed about the same time by Kayser and Runge, but his work had the special merit of connecting different series in the spectrum of the same element into one system, which could be represented by a set of simple formulae having but few adjustable constants. He especially insi

• Binding: Hardcover

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