Shapes of atomic-hydrogen lines produced at a cathode surface

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Abstract
The observation of extraordinarily wide wings on the spectrum lines of atomic hydrogen in emission at the cathode surface of an electric discharge is described. Actual line shapes in pure hydrogen manifest an articulation which divides the spectrum line into three distinct regions, each arising from a separate mechanism. Several novel discharge-source configurations have been developed in preceding experimentation, these falling into the general category of hollow cathodes. Three critical experiments have been performed to elucidate the process which gives rise to the extended far wings of the hydrogen lines and to determine their physical point of origin. Ultimately, it is concluded that the cathode surface itself is essential to the mechanism for producing the extreme velocities of the excited atoms which account for the distant extended wings.