The Solution of Capture-Cascade Equations for Hydrogen

Calculations are made for T = 2.5 × 10 ³ , 5 × 10 ³ , 1 × 10 ⁴ and 2 × 10 ⁴ °K taking an infinite number of levels into account but assuming that $$b_{nl}=[(2l+I)/n^2]b_n$$ . The results obtained by Baker and Menzel are shown to be in error by about 5 per cent for Case A and 20 per cent for Case B. An improved method of calculation results from the introduction of the cascade matrix, the elements C _n'n giving the total probability of the $$n^\prime\rightarrow n$$ transition when all cascade routes are taken into account.