On Bohr’s Model of the Atom

(A. Szarvassi. Über das Bohrsche Atommodelle Phys. ZS. 19, p. 505—1918).

The author begins with the following words: “The true nature of Bohr’s model of the atom is unknown to us. We do not understand why the electron in its stable orbit does not radiate; it cannot be seen why these orbits are truly stable.”

[[unclear: word ending]]; it is incomprehensible that the transition from one stable orbit to another stable orbit is connected with monochromatic radiation; it is completely unclear why the change of energy in this transition is equal to the product of Planck’s constant \(h\) and the number of oscillations of the emitted light. Only the results are perfectly definite, and, since no one will regard as accidental the calculation of the Rydberg constant from molecular data and the representation of \(\nu\) in the form of Balmer’s formula, we are therefore faced with the task of correctly interpreting Bohr’s remarkable discovery. It may be supposed that the modern conception of the atom, containing so much that is incomprehensible, is only an image, while its true content is statistical in essence. This conception does not lead one into error: those properties which seem miraculous in the model are in reality statistical phenomena, occurring thanks to the simultaneous interaction of many atoms. In what follows I propose to give a correct conception of the subject.”

The author then examines the case of Bohr’s hydrogen atom placed among other atoms of the same kind, and arrives at the conclusion that a number of phenomena, incomprehensible under the usual conception of the Bohr model, disappear under their statistical interpretation.

P. Lazarev.