Intensity Distribution of the Continuous Spectrum of Hydrogen in Mixtures with Helium and with Neon

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Shift of intensity in the continuous spectrum of hydrogen by admixture of rare gases. The continuous spectrum of hydrogen emitted in mixtures with helium and with neon was studied. The effect of these gases was to shift the maximum of intensity to longer wave-lengths. The ratio of intensity of the spectrum emitted in pure hydrogen to that emitted in the presence of helium as a function of the wave-length was determined by photographic photometry. In order to establish the reasons for this change in distribution of energy with wave-length in the continuous spectrum, a study of the intensity distribution of the many-line spectrum in the presence of helium was made. 20 cm of helium were sufficient to reduce the vibration in the excited states to practically zero. Hence the continuous spectrum emitted in the presence of helium must come from transitions from the lowest vibrational level of its upper state.