On the quantum theory of radiation and the structure of the atom

Table of Contents

XLII. On the Quantum Theory of Radiation and the Structure of the Atom.      5

§ 1. General assumptions.      9

§ 2. Spectra emitted from systems containing only one electron.      15

§ 3. Spectra emitted from systems containing more than one electron.      21

§ 4. The high frequency spectra of the elements.      28

FOOTNOTES:      30

XLII. On the Quantum Theory of Radiation and the Structure of the Atom.

By N. BOHR,

Dr. phil. Copenhagen;

p.t. Reader in Mathematical Physics at the University of Manchester[1].

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IN a series of papers in this periodical[2] the present writer has attempted to give the outlines of a theory of the constitution of atoms and molecules by help of a certain application of the Quantum theory of radiation to the theory of the nucleus atom. As the theory has been made a subject of criticism, and as experimental evidence of importance bearing on these questions has been obtained in the meantime, an attempt will be made in this paper to consider some points more closely.

§ 1. General assumptions.

According to the theory proposed by Sir Ernest Rutherford, in order to account for the phenomena of scattering of 2417402005572879403_16.png -rays, the atom consists of a central positively charged nucleus surrounded by a cluster of electrons. The nucleus is the seat of the essential part of the mass of the atom, and has linear dimensions exceedingly small compared with the distances apart of the electrons in the surrounding cluster. From the results of experiments on scattering of alpha rays, Rutherford concluded that the charge on the nucleus corresponds to a number of electrons per atom approximately equal to half the atomic weight. Concordant evidence from a large number of very different phenomena has led to the more definite assumption that the number of electrons per atom is exactly equal to the atomic number, i.e., the number of the corresponding element in the periodic table. This view was first proposed by van den Broek[3]. While the nucleus theory has been of great utility in explaining many important properties of the atom[4], on the other hand it is evident that it is impossible by its aid to explain many other fundamental properties if we base our considerations on the ordinary electrodynamical theory; but this can hardly be considered as a valid objection at the present time. It does not seem that there is any escape from the conclusion that it is impossible to account for the phenomena of temperature radiation on ordinary electrodynamics, and that the modification to be introduced in this theory must be essentially equivalent with the assumptions first used by Planck in