Articles by others on the same topic
The Pickering series refers to a series of spectral lines that are observed in the emission or absorption spectra of certain elements, particularly hydrogen. These lines arise from electronic transitions of the hydrogen atom, where electrons move between different energy levels. The Pickering series specifically refers to transitions where an electron falls from a higher energy level (n ≥ 6) down to the n=5 energy level. It is named after the British astronomer William Pickering, who studied these spectral lines.