Physical Processes in Gaseous Nebulae. I.

Abstract

In this paper, the first of a series dealing with the physical state of gaseous nebulae, various fundamental formulae are derived. The total emission and absorption of radia- tion by atomic hydrogen are evaluated, together with the number of transitions to and from any quantum level, discrete or continuous; The equations are thrown into simple homogeneous form. The general equations that determine the statistical equilibrium of the assembly and the partition of atoms into various atomic states are developed. Solution of these equations is deferred until a later paper