Rydberg constant
noun Physics
A constant, 1.097 x 107 m−1, which appears in the formulae for the wave numbers of lines in atomic spectra and is a function of the rest mass and charge of the electron, the speed of light, and Planck’s constant.Five recent measurements of the frequencies of optical spectral lines in atomic hydrogen and deuterium have improved the accuracy of the Rydberg constant beyond 1 part in 109....
- Our aim is a measurement of the Rydberg constant, directly in frequency units, with an uncertainty of less than 10−10.
Origin
Early 20th century: named after Johannes R. Rydberg (1854–1919), Swedish physicist.