On the effect of electric and magnetic fields on spectral lines

In this seminal work the author revisits his earlier quantum ideas, showing how the discrete energy packets proposed by Planck can be combined with Rutherford’s atomic model to make sense of the bright, sharply defined lines seen in atomic spectra. By treating each line as a transition between “stationary states” of an electron orbiting a nucleus, the paper derives the familiar formulas of Balmer, Rydberg and Ritz from a fresh, quantized perspective.

The discussion then turns to recent laboratory discoveries: the splitting of spectral lines when atoms are placed in electric (the Stark effect) or magnetic (the Zeeman effect) fields. Using the same quantum framework, the author sketches how these external influences could disturb the stationary states, leading to the observed doublets and triplets. The treatment remains rooted in classical mechanics where possible, yet hints at a deeper connection between the new quantum rules and traditional electrodynamics, inviting listeners to follow the early steps of a theory that would soon reshape physics.