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Janne Rydberg - his life and work

Martinson, Indrek LU and Curtis, L.J. (2005) In Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms 235(1-4). p.17-22
Abstract
The Rydberg formula is emblematic of atomic spectroscopy. We review here the personal background, research accomplishments, and academic career of its discoverer, Janne Rydberg. Although his formula is often introduced as a generalization of the hydrogenic Balmer formula, Rydberg’s work was independent of Balmer’s, and displayed great ingenuity and a rare ability to recognize hidden patterns in complex numerical data. Although his discoveries attracted wide attention, experimental physics was then considered inseparable from measurement, and the fact that Rydberg’s insightful formulations used the data of others impeded his academic career. Although Rydberg did not live to see the full theoretical implications of his discoveries, the... (More)
The Rydberg formula is emblematic of atomic spectroscopy. We review here the personal background, research accomplishments, and academic career of its discoverer, Janne Rydberg. Although his formula is often introduced as a generalization of the hydrogenic Balmer formula, Rydberg’s work was independent of Balmer’s, and displayed great ingenuity and a rare ability to recognize hidden patterns in complex numerical data. Although his discoveries attracted wide attention, experimental physics was then considered inseparable from measurement, and the fact that Rydberg’s insightful formulations used the data of others impeded his academic career. Although Rydberg did not live to see the full theoretical implications of his discoveries, the vigorous study of Rydberg atoms continues today. (Less)
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author
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publishing date
type
Contribution to specialist publication or newspaper
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Fysicumarkivet F:112 Janne Rydberg Rydberg constant Rydberg atoms
categories
Popular Science
in
Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
volume
235
issue
1-4
pages
17 - 22
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:20144368689
ISSN
0168-583X
DOI
10.1016/j.nimb.2005.03.137
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
26321cd2-a72d-461b-ac23-5a0cfe683cff (old id 1613803)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:20:15
date last changed
2022-01-28 19:01:18
@misc{26321cd2-a72d-461b-ac23-5a0cfe683cff,
  abstract     = {{The Rydberg formula is emblematic of atomic spectroscopy. We review here the personal background, research accomplishments, and academic career of its discoverer, Janne Rydberg. Although his formula is often introduced as a generalization of the hydrogenic Balmer formula, Rydberg’s work was independent of Balmer’s, and displayed great ingenuity and a rare ability to recognize hidden patterns in complex numerical data. Although his discoveries attracted wide attention, experimental physics was then considered inseparable from measurement, and the fact that Rydberg’s insightful formulations used the data of others impeded his academic career. Although Rydberg did not live to see the full theoretical implications of his discoveries, the vigorous study of Rydberg atoms continues today.}},
  author       = {{Martinson, Indrek and Curtis, L.J.}},
  issn         = {{0168-583X}},
  keywords     = {{Fysicumarkivet F:112
Janne Rydberg
Rydberg constant
Rydberg atoms}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1-4}},
  pages        = {{17--22}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms}},
  title        = {{Janne Rydberg - his life and work}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4641948/3409138.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.nimb.2005.03.137}},
  volume       = {{235}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}