The origin of the dark bands found in the Solar Spectra and its consequences

2025/10/08 by Roy, Prachurjo Dutta
#FOS: Physical sciences #Popular Physics (physics.pop-ph)

paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2510.21747

Abstract

This paper discusses the history of Fraunhofer's puzzling discovery of the fixed lines in various spectra (most notably of the sun) and the implications of these spectral "imperfections". Moreover, the developments in spectroscopy by Kirchhoff, Bunsen, et al. in the 19th century and its effects on our understanding of the atomic structure are discussed.

Related

• Compendium solar spectrum formation
• Solar Spectroscopy at ARIES
• Formation depths of Fraunhofer lines
• Special spectroscopic observations and rare solar events collected in the first half of the twentieth century with Meudon spectroheliograph
• Anomalous frequency shifts in the solar system