The Rydberg Constant and the Atomic Mass of the Electron

Abstract

A re-evaluation of the spectroscopic data pertinent to the Rydberg constant and the atomic mass of the electron yields the values ${R}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}=109737.326\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.014$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and $m=(54.895\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.008)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ amu. If the "microwave" value of the electron atomic mass, $m=(54.8785\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0019)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$, is used, the Rydberg constant is ${R}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}=109737.311\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.012$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. It is furthermore concluded that Houston's and Chu's data can be brought into agreement with that of Drinkwater, Richardson, and Williams by ascribing the discrepancy to differences in wavelength standards used by these investigators.