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Line spectrum of
hydrogen
When the electron shell of
a hydrogen atom is excited, it will oscillate in its
natural frequency and so the electron present in the
shell. This oscillation of the electron causes the
emission of the shortest wavelength Lyman series photon
and the electron jumps to an outer transitory shell
(see how
light is emitted). The jumping of the electron
depends on the degree of the excitation of a shell.
i.e., a low-level excitation of a shell causes, the
electron in the shell to jump to a nearer outer
transitory shell. But, a high-level excitation of the
shell causes due to the high-amplitude oscillation of
the shell, the electron jumps to a more outer transitory
shell.
When the electron shell of a hydrogen atom is excited
in a discharge lamp by a low-energy electron, the
hydrogen atom emits the shortest wavelength Lyman photon
and the electron jumps to a near outer transitory shell.
If there is no further excitation for the atom, the
electron will instantaneously fall back to the electron
shell. But, if the transitory shell, to which the
electron has jumped, is simultaneously excited by some
ways, the electron again emits a Lyman photon in a
longer wavelength. This type of excitation of the
transitory shell which is very close to the electron
shell of a hydrogen atom is the reason for the "fine
structure" (splitting of the spectral line).
But, if the electron shell is excited by a
high-energy electron, the electron emits the shortest
wavelength Lyman photon, but the amplitude of the photon
will be greater because of the high-amplitude
oscillation of the electron shell. This oscillation
causes the electron to jump to a "further outer"
transitory shell. If there is no further excitation for
the atom, the electron will instantaneously fall back to
the electron shell. This fall back causes the electron
shell to be excited in a nominal fashion and the
emission of a low-amplitude photon in the shortest
wavelength.
But if the transitory shell, to which the electron
has jumped, is simultaneously excited by some ways the
electron emits a Balmer series photon and jumps to a
further outer transitory shell. In this way, for every
jumping of the electron to a more and more outer
transitory shells and the excitation of those transitory
shells can cause the emission of more-longer wavelength
like Paschen series, Brackett series, and Pfund series
photons. These processes can be continued until the
electron is expelled out of the atom and to turn the
atom into plasma of hydrogen at very high temperature.
See
Structure of atom
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