What do Fraunhofer lines identify?
The Fraunhofer lines in the solar spectrum are useful in identifying the composition of the sun’s atmosphere and the elements present in the sun.
What are H and K lines?
The H and K lines are prominent absorption lines in the spectra of stars like the Sun and cooler due to singly ionized calcium (Ca II). Named by Joseph von Fraunhofer, they occur in the near-ultraviolet at wavelengths of 3969 and 3934 Å, respectively (see Fraunhofer lines).
Which element produces the H and K lines in the solar spectrum?
Background and Theory
| Table 1 — “Known” Lines | ||
|---|---|---|
| Designation | Wavelength (Angstrom) | Origin |
| F | 4861 | hydrogen (Hβ) |
| H | 3968 | ionized calcium (Ca II) |
| K | 3934 | ionized calcium (Ca II) |
What did Fraunhofer discover that Newton had missed in his study of the solar spectrum?
Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) discovered that if white light is passed through a prism, it separates into a rainbow, which is called a spectrum. These dark lines were segments of colors missing from the complete spectrum. Fraunhofer counted 574 of these lines, which we now call Fraunhofer lines.
What did Joseph von Fraunhofer discover?
He made optical glass and achromatic telescope objective lenses, invented the spectroscope, and developed diffraction grating. In 1814, he discovered and studied the dark absorption lines in the spectrum of the sun now known as Fraunhofer lines.
What is Fraunhofer spectrum?
Fraunhofer spectrum is a line absorption spectrum. The atoms in the chromosphere absorb certain wavelengths of light coming from the photosphere. This gives rise to absorption lines.
What are Fraunhofer lines and why are they significant?
The Fraunhofer lines are, indeed, a lifeline of solar physicists. The depths of the absorption lines provide information about temperature, and the wavelength shifts of the lines tell us the motion of gas. If the Sun consisted only of pure hydrogen, there would be no absorption line.
How many dark lines did Joseph Fraunhofer label?
570 lines
In 1814, Fraunhofer independently rediscovered the lines and began to systematically study and measure the wavelengths where these features are observed. He mapped over 570 lines, designating the principal features (lines) with the letters A through K and weaker lines with other letters.