Astrophysics (Index)About

Paschen series

(hydrogen lines for electrons settling from n > 3 to n = 3)

The Paschen series is the set of emission lines from atomic hydrogen gas, due to electrons descending from an electron shell of number n greater than 3 down to that of n = 3, or the analogous absorption lines when absorbed electromagnetic radiation (EMR) makes electrons do the opposite. It is one of the hydrogen line series, such as the Lyman series and Balmer series and is named after Friedrich Paschen. The lines are within near infrared and some are within atmospheric windows, so given no redshift, some of the lines in astronomical sources may be viewed from ground telescopes while others are blocked. Lines:

Formula for wavelengths:

1/wavelength = RH ( 1/9 - 1/n² )

(Paschen,hydrogen,line series,lines,spectrum)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_spectral_series
http://dept.harpercollege.edu/chemistry/chm/100/dgodambe/thedisk/spec/5back5.htm
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Tables/hydspec.html
https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/srd/jpcrd382009565p.pdf
WaveLFreqPhoton
Energy
  
820nm366THz1.6eVbeginPaschen series
1875nm160THz661meVendPaschen series

Referenced by pages:
hydrogen (H)
spectral line

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