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Astronomy Principles and Practice Fourth Edition.pdf

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Spectral lines 225<br />

Figure 15.8. Energy transitions giving rise to the Lyman, Balmer <strong>and</strong> Paschen series in the hydrogen spectrum.<br />

Table 15.2. The wavelength positions of spectral lines in the hydrogen spectrum.<br />

n = 1 n = 2 n = 3<br />

Lyman series Balmer series Paschen series<br />

λ (Å) λ (Å) λ (Å)<br />

m = 2 Lα 1215 m = 3 Hα (Fraunhofer C) 6562 m = 4 Pα 18 751<br />

m = 3 Lβ 1025 m = 4 Hβ (Fraunhofer F) 4861 m = 5 Pβ 12 818<br />

m = 4 Lγ 972 m = 5 Hγ (Fraunhofer G) 4340 m = 6 Pγ 10 938<br />

m = 5 Lδ 949<br />

· · ·<br />

· · ·<br />

· · ·<br />

∞ 912 ∞ 3646 ∞ 8 208<br />

If a hydrogen atom is sufficiently excited to allow an energy level which is greater than the upper<br />

limit—a limit which does not exist in classical dynamics—the electron will leave the atom, which is<br />

then said to be ionized. A similar reverse procedure can also be imagined where an electron which

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