Hydrogen Coulomb energy levels
The ideal one-electron atom has discrete bound energies.
Key knowledge
For nonrelativistic hydrogen with a fixed point nucleus, Coulomb bound levels have E_n = −m_e k_e²e⁴/(2ħ²n²), n = 1,2,… . Photon emission between allowed levels has hν = E_initial − E_final > 0.
Values and equations
E_n = −m_e k_e²e⁴/(2ħ²n²); hν = E_initial − E_final > 0
- E_n, E_initial, E_final
- Bound-state energies relative to separated particle limit J
- m_e
- Electron mass kg
- k_e
- Coulomb constant N m² C⁻²
- e
- Elementary charge magnitude C
- ħ, h
- Reduced and ordinary Planck constants J s
- n
- Positive principal quantum number
- ν
- Photon frequency Hz
Conditions and scope
- k_e = 1/(4πε₀); neglect nuclear motion, finite size, fine structure and radiative corrections.
- An energy difference alone does not guarantee that a particular radiative transition is allowed.
Sources · 2
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Samuel J. Ling, Jeff Sanny and William Moebs / OpenStax, Rice University2 sources
Evidence and review
Section 8.1 equation 8.3: Coulomb bound spectrum; section 6.4: transition photon energy.
2026-10-10 · Ideal bound-level energies and energy balance only; numerical line predictions and selection rules excluded.
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- physics-hydrogen-spectrum
- Revision
- university-reference.1
- Structured reference record
- University reference · University core expansion