Theory of the Excitation of Spectra by Atomic Hydrogen

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Abstract
An explanation is proposed for the results of Bonhoeffer and of Mohler on the excitation of spectra by atomic hydrogen. The theories advanced by these authors do not completely explain the experimental results. The theory presented here is based on the hypothesis that in a three-body collision two hydrogen atoms can be bound to form a molecule in any one of the vibration states of its normal electronic level. We make use of the principle, used in collisions of the second kind, that the probability of excitation increases as the energy of the exciting body and the energy necessary for excitation approach each other. This is done by postulating that the probability of the excitation of the third body is greater, the nearer the energy required is to the difference between the energy of recombination and the energy retained by the hydrogen molecule in one of its vibration states. The theory has been applied successfully to the excitation of Na, K, Cd, Zn, Cs and Mg by atomic hydrogen. The excitation of the 2537 line of mercury, which requires more energy than that available from recombination, is explained on the basis of Bonhoeffer's observations.

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