Stark Effect for Argon

Abstract

THE Stark effect on argon lines has earlier been investigated by E. Böttcher and F. Tuczek¹ and by W. Steubing.² These investigators have worked with relatively small electrical field strengths, 26kv./cm. and 38 kv./cm. respectively, and could not observe any effect. Using higher field strengths (E_max. about 170 kv./cm.), T. Takamine and N. Kokubu³ succeeded in showing some very small displacements, towards the red of the violet lines, belonging to the so-called ‘red spectrum’ of argon, the structure of which was unknown at that time. The series analysis of this spectrum was given by K. W. Meissner⁴ and F. A. Saunders.⁵ From this we now notice that the affected lines observed by Takamine and Kokubu all belong to the principal series. It was to be expected that these lines would be very little displaced, whereas on the subordinate series lines a greater influence of the electrical field would be anticipated. Probably owing to deficient intensity, these lines have not been observed. For this reason I made an attempt to investigate the electrical effect on these lines.