Precision measurement of the Rydberg constant by laser saturation spectroscopy of the balmer α line in hydrogen and deuterium

Abstract

We have determined a new Rydberg value, R=109737.3143(10) cm-1, with an order of magnitude improvement in precision, by measuring the absolute wavelengths of resolved fine-structure components of the Balmer α line in hydrogen and deuterium, excited in a dc gas discharge. Doppler broadening was eliminated by saturation spectroscopy with a pulsed dye laser. An iodine-stabilized He-Ne laser was the wavelength standard. Possible sources of systematic errors have been carefully investigated. © 1974 The American Physical Society.