Referee's report by Hugh Frank Newall, on a paper 'The spectra of metallic arcs in an exhausted globe' by Alfred Fowler and Howard Payn

Description

Sectional Committee: [Physics and Chemistry]

Recommended for publication in Proceedings of the Royal Society. The paper contains a description of a phenomena which, so far as Newall is aware, has not been observed before. Some description is well worth publishing but the paper submitted is very deficient in thoroughness and he thinks, 'hardly ready' for communication. Recommends it be printed in the Proceedings with a reproduction of the illustrations, if the authors can modify their paper to conform to the six points below.

An indication of the magnitude of the pressures under which the observations have been made should be given.
Some indication of the current strengths used should be given or it should be stated that they were not measured.
It would add much to the value of the paper if the wave length of the 4481 line had been determined, otherwise it would seem better to omit the reference to Crew's work, page four.
The authors call attention to four new lines, at the bottom of page four, but the arguments they advance for believing them to be enhanced magnesium lines seems to weigh against their conclusions, or at least to involve a new definition of enhanced lines.
Queries the reference on page five to the HB [H beta] line.
A more definite statement as to the regions in which flutings and enhanced lines appear in the arc should be given.

[Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society, 1903].

Endorsed on verso as received 4 July 1903.

Reference number

RR/16/57

Earliest possible date

03 July 1903

Physical description

Letter on paper

Page extent

4 pages

Format

Manuscript