Hyperfine structure in the arc spectrum of xenon

Abstract
The spectrum of neutral xenon (Xe-I) was first analysed by Meggers, de Bruin, and Humphreys in 1929. One of the objects of their investigation was to determine whether any of the lines of xenon would be suitable for consideration as wave-length standards to replace the λ 6438 of cadmium, which is considered to be unsuitable in many respects. The analysis showed that the strongest lines in the region λλ4200 to 8800 are s-p transitions and are therefore theoretically suitable as standards, in the event of their not possessing hyperfine structures, since they are not subject to Stark displacements in the electric field of the discharge. It is thus important that the spectrum should be thoroughly examined, with apparatus of the highest resolving power, for hyperfine structure. Apparatus Xenon, on account of its high atomic weight, emits very sharp lines in ordinary light-sources, so that no great precautions were necessary beyond care that lines involving metastable terms (in particular 1 s 5 ) should not be produced under conditions that would permit self-absorption to occur.

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