10 Facts About Johannes Rydberg

Johannes Rydberg began his career as an amanuensis in the institution.

Johannes Rydberg became a docent in maths in 1880, and in 1882 became a docent in physics.

Johannes Rydberg searched for a formula for several years to no avail.

Johannes Rydberg's research was preceded by Johann Jakob Balmer's, who presented an empirical formula for the visible spectral lines of the hydrogen atom in 1885.

However, Johannes Rydberg's research led him to publish a formula in 1888 which could be used to describe the spectral lines not only for hydrogen but other elements as well.

Johannes Rydberg applied for a professorship in 1897, but despite the recommendations of experts in the subject he was rejected.

In 1913, Johannes Rydberg became very ill and was forced to slow down his pace of research, and in 1915 he was granted leave on account of his illness.

Johannes Rydberg died on 28 December 1919 at Lund Hospital and was succeeded by his student Manne Siegbahn.

The physical constant known as the Johannes Rydberg constant is named after him, as is the Johannes Rydberg unit.

Excited atoms with very high values of the principal quantum number, represented by n in the Johannes Rydberg formula, are called Johannes Rydberg atoms.