Nuclear Motions Associated with Electron Transitions in Diatomic Molecules

TLDR

Quantum mechanics is employed to investigate how nuclear motions accompany electron transitions. The study predicts a new type of band spectrum arising from the wave nature of matter and suggests that Rayleigh’s mercury band at 2476‑2482 Å is an example. The authors demonstrate that Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle accounts for the inaccuracy of Franck’s postulate in electron transitions, making it of only trivial relevance, while confirming its validity for atomic electron jumps.

Abstract

The question of nuclear motions associated with electron transitions is discussed from the standpoint of quantum mechanics. It appears that Heisenberg's indetermination principle gives the clue to the inexactness of the earlier method based on Franck's postulate since its strict application calls for a violation of the principle. The existence of an entirely new type of band spectrum due to the wave nature of matter is predicted and the interpretation of Rayleigh's mercury band at 2476-2482 A.U. as of this type is suggested. Finally it is shown that while Franck's postulate is also true for electron jumps in atoms, it is of but trivial interest because its inexactness is much greater for the electrons than for heavy nuclei.