Johannes Rydberg | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Johannes Rydberg | |
| Born | (1854-11-08)8 November 1854 Halmstad, Sweden |
| Died | 28 December 1919(1919-12-28) (aged 65) Lund, Sweden |
| Known for | Rydberg formula |
| Awards | Fellow of the Royal Society (1919) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Institutions | Lund University |
| Thesis | Konstruktioner af kägelsnitt i 3- och 4-punktskontakt (1879) |
Johannes (Janne) Robert Rydberg (Swedish:[ˈrŷːdbærj]; 8 November 1854 – 28 December 1919) was aSwedishphysicist mainly known for devising theRydberg formula, in 1888, which is used to describe thewavelengths ofphotons (ofvisible light and otherelectromagnetic radiation) emitted by changes in the energy level of anelectron in ahydrogen atom.
Rydberg was born 8 November 1854 inHalmstad in southernSweden, the only child of Sven Rydberg and Maria Anderson Rydberg. When he was 4 years old his father died, and the family was forced to live on a small income. In 1873 he graduated from Halmstads elementärläroverk, where he received high grades in maths and physics. Later that year he enrolled inLund University, and two years later he was awarded hisbachelor's degree. In 1879 he was awarded hisDoctor of Philosophy with his dissertation "Konstruktioner af kägelsnitt i 3- och 4-punktskontakt".[1]
Rydberg began his career as anamanuensis in the institution. He became adocent in maths in 1880, and in 1882 became a docent in physics. At this time he began studying thestandard atomic weight, because he wondered what was the reason for the seemingly random increase in weight for the atoms inMendeleev'speriodic system. He searched for a formula for several years to no avail.[2]
His next work was about investigating theatomic spectra, explaining why these occurred.[2] Rydberg's research was preceded byJohann Jakob Balmer's, who presented anempirical formula for the visiblespectral lines of thehydrogen atom in 1885.[3] However, Rydberg's research led him to publish a formula in 1888 which could be used to describe the spectral lines not only for hydrogen but other elements as well. After his publication in 1890 on the subject,[4] Rydberg returned to his fruitless research on the periodic table.[5]
Rydberg applied for a professorship in 1897, but despite the recommendations of experts in the subject he was rejected. However, he became an extraordinary professor instead. It was not until 1909 that he was upgraded into a full professorship.[6] To earn extra money he worked part-time as a numerical examiner at Sparbanken in Lund from 1891 and as an actuary in Malmö from 1905.[7]
In 1913, Rydberg became very ill and was forced to slow down his pace of research, and in 1915 he was granted leave on account of his illness.[8] He died on 28 December 1919 at Lund Hospital and was succeeded by his studentManne Siegbahn.[9][10] Rydberg is buried at the northern cemetery in Lund and left his wife Lydia Carlsson (1856–1925), son Helge Rydberg (1887–1968) and daughter Gerda Rydberg (1891–1983).
Thephysical constant known as theRydberg constant is named after him, as is theRydberg unit. Excited atoms with very high values of theprincipal quantum number, represented byn in theRydberg formula, are calledRydberg atoms.[11] Rydberg's anticipation that spectral studies could assist in a theoretical understanding of the atom and its chemical properties was justified in 1913 by the work ofNiels Bohr (seehydrogen spectrum). An important spectroscopic constant based on a hypothetical atom of infinite mass is called the Rydberg (R) in his honour.
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