On the series lines in the arc spectrum of Mercury

Abstract

I. Introduction .—This communication is intended to constitute the first of a series of studies which have been made by the writer during the past two years, as opportunity offered, on the distribution of series lines in the arc spectrum of mercury, as well as on the constitution of some of these lines, and on their resolution by magnetic fields. In making these studies, one of several objects kept in view was the determination, in so far as time was available, and the facilities of the laboratory permitted, of the experimental conditions which should be adopted in order to obtain photographic records which would exhibit the greatest possible amount of detail. In the present paper a summary is given of the results obtained so far, in an effort to make as complete as possible the identification of the lines belonging to the different series in the arc spectrum of mercury.