Cause of the Structure of Spectra . 273 



atom we do not find this to be the case, while with Rb and Cs- 

 the Diffuse series has not been observed yet. 



In the Principal series of the Alkalis the values o£ fju 

 when written 1*965 2*1 2*233 2*3 2*3 and then multiplied 

 by 30 give the numbers 59 63 67 69 69 the differences 

 between which are 4 4 2 0. In other words, the value of 

 /j. for Li can be written 2 — 1/30, and those for the other metals 

 of the family be obtained by adding in succession 4 4 2 and 

 thirtieths. Moreover the values of fju in the Sharp series 

 can be derived from those in the Principal series by sub- 

 tracting- 

 Li. Na. K Eb. Cs. 



1 __ 4_ .1 2_ 1 2_ 1 I 4_ 1 i 6_ 



2 3 2 3o -1 3 2 ~ 3 2 7.30 



Concerning p for the other metals, it may be worth noting 

 that in many cases the values for the Diffuse and Sharp series 

 when added together give a sum near 1*08, the actual values 

 being 



Mg. Zn. Cd. Hg. Al. In. Tl. 



1*06 1*098 1-108 1*044 1*101 1*077 1*098 



In the special Magnesium series of section 2, where /j, has 

 the form — 2'343/m, which may possibly be 2'333/ra or 

 2^-r-m, we have evidence of stationary waves in the atom 

 caused by 2 J- times the circumference being divided into 3, 



4, 8 standing waves, each of which is capable of 



maintaining a corresponding motion of an electron. 



For the value of 1/A we have VB with V = 3x 10 10 and B 

 for hydrogen 109675, giving 1/A = 33x 10 14 revolutions per 

 second. Now this is of the same order as 10 2 times the 

 frequency of the mechanical vibrations of the Li atom and as 

 10 times the frequency of ordinary light. It is therefore 

 probable that the frequency of the revolution of the electrons 

 in a neutron is the same as that frequency which is common 

 to the mechanical vibrations of all the atoms, for /j, in the Li 

 family bears witness to harmonics of frequency 30 times the 

 fundamental. Atom and electron by their mutual resonance 

 make this frequency of 33 X 10 14 the fundamental datum in 

 the vibrations of atoms and electrons. 



The reason why solids and liquids in general give continuous 

 Spectra is that in them the frequency of the collisions of an 

 atom with others is of the order of the frequency of the 

 internal vibrations of the atom, so that every mode of motion 

 has its energy renewed so often with sudden changes of phase, 

 that there is no chance for the motions maintained by 

 resonance to stand out from the crowd. 



