Inglis-Teller equation
Encyclopedia
The Inglis–Teller equation represents an approximate relationship between an energy level and the electron number density. This equation is related to the Stark effect
in which spectral lines are split explicitly due to the presence of an electric field. The equation was derived by David R. Inglis and Edward Teller
in 1939.
The equation is directly related to astrophysics as the electron densities of stars are determined using this equation. Since the Stark effect
shifts spectral lines, for some energy level n, the splitting is equal to the difference between the adjoining energy level. Beyond this level, spectral lines merge together.
Electron density and the merging energy level relationship for hydrogen atom is given by;
where, Ni= no: of positive ions per cm3,
Ne= no: of negative electrons per cm3,
nm= last observable energy level of the Balmer series
.
Stark effect
The Stark effect is the shifting and splitting of spectral lines of atoms and molecules due to presence of an external static electric field. The amount of splitting and or shifting is called the Stark splitting or Stark shift. In general one distinguishes first- and second-order Stark effects...
in which spectral lines are split explicitly due to the presence of an electric field. The equation was derived by David R. Inglis and Edward Teller
Edward Teller
Edward Teller was a Hungarian-American theoretical physicist, known colloquially as "the father of the hydrogen bomb," even though he did not care for the title. Teller made numerous contributions to nuclear and molecular physics, spectroscopy , and surface physics...
in 1939.
The equation is directly related to astrophysics as the electron densities of stars are determined using this equation. Since the Stark effect
Stark effect
The Stark effect is the shifting and splitting of spectral lines of atoms and molecules due to presence of an external static electric field. The amount of splitting and or shifting is called the Stark splitting or Stark shift. In general one distinguishes first- and second-order Stark effects...
shifts spectral lines, for some energy level n, the splitting is equal to the difference between the adjoining energy level. Beyond this level, spectral lines merge together.
Electron density and the merging energy level relationship for hydrogen atom is given by;
where, Ni= no: of positive ions per cm3,
Ne= no: of negative electrons per cm3,
nm= last observable energy level of the Balmer series
Balmer series
The Balmer series or Balmer lines in atomic physics, is the designation of one of a set of six different named series describing the spectral line emissions of the hydrogen atom....
.
Further reading
- "Electron density in the emission line region of Wolf-Rayet stars" – Y.P Varshni
- "ttp://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?1939ApJ....90..439I&data_type=PDF_HIGH&whole_paper=YES&type=PRINTER&filetype=.pdf