A brief account is given of the classical electron theory of anomalousdispersion and line absorption. The oscillator strength, or f-value,is introduced as the factor involved in taking over the resultsof classical theory in a modern quantum mechanical formulation. Therelation between f-values and the transition probabilities of Einsteinis derived.
A summary of methods for experimental determination of f-values foratomic transitions is given, and in particular the method of total absorptionis considered in detail. The equivalent width or total absorptionof an absorption line is defined, and the relation of this to the oscillatorstrength of the line, the so-called curve of growth, qualitativelyexplained.
The laboratory apparatus used in the present investigation is describedin detail, as are the methods of obtaining and reducing the experimentaldata.
An account is given of unsuccessful experiments on the resonance linesof Ca. Absolute nf-values obtained for three lines of Cr are reported, andon the basis of unsatisfactory vapor pressure data, tentative absolutef-values for these lines are assigned. Absolute f-values for three linesof the Ni spectrum are reported, the vapor pressure data for Ni beingreliable. A conversion factor is obtained by which the relative gf-valuesfor Ni given by King may be reduced to an absolute scale.
