Rydberg Constant

Sets the wavelengths of hydrogen's spectral lines and is among the most precisely measured constants.

Specifications & Metrics

symbol

R∞

status

Measured (CODATA 2022)

value

10973731.568157 ± 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ m⁻¹

Relative Scale in Constants

Core Principles & Analysis

• Predicts hydrogen's spectral series through 1/λ = R∞(1/n₁² − 1/n₂²).
• Measured to about one part in 10¹² from hydrogen spectroscopy, among the sharpest of all constants.
• Ties together the electron mass, elementary charge, h, and c, so spectroscopy cross-checks the whole constant network.

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