The L emission series of mercury

Abstract

The L emission series of most of the heavy elements from ytterbium to uranium have been investigated by Coster and by Dauvillier, but their tables of results do not include measurements for some of the radio-active elements and for mercury. Muller, in 1921, by means of a tube of the “gas-filled” type and a liquid-mercury target, overcame the inherent difficulty regarding mercury, viz., that of the rapid volatilization of the mercury from the face of the anticathode. It has been found possible to prepare targets amalgamated with mercury which are sufficiently lasting to enable their use in a tube of the hot filament type; by this means measurements of the wave-lengths of the emission lines have been made with an accuracy exceeding that of Muller. In addition, several new lines have been measured, and an attempt made to clear up a certain amount of confusion which exists regarding the designation of some of the lines of the L spectra of elements of higher atomic number.