Janne Rydberg - his life and work
(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)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1613803
- author
- Martinson, Indrek LU and Curtis, L.J.
- organization
- publishing date
- 2005
- 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}}, }