Abstract
THE band spectrum of sodium in the visible region consists of two systems, one in the red on the longer wave-length side of the yellow D lines, and another stronger one in the green on the shorter wave-length side of these lines (R. W. Wood, Phil. Mag., 18, p. 530; 1909). Potassium possesses two similar band systems (J. C. McLennan and Ainslie, Proc. Roy. Soc., 103, p. 304; 1923). It is now known that the bands on the red side belong to a triplet system, 3P → 1S, and those on the blue side to a singlet system, 1P → 1S. This results from alkali molecules having in their normal state two outer electrons like the atoms of the alkaline earths.
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MCLENNAN, J., RUEDY, R. The Atomic Spectral Lines Associated with the Band Fluorescence of Alkali Metals. Nature 121, 500–501 (1928). https://doi.org/10.1038/121500b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/121500b0
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