Niels Bohr postulated his atomic theory (circular orbitals) in 1913 in order to describe the spectra of hydrogen. A few years later, Arnold Sommerfeld extended Bohrs Model by considering elliptical orbitals and relativistic effects, since the electron is moving with around 1% of the speed of light. With this extension, sommerfeld could explain for the very first time the finestructure of the hydrogen spectra. This agreenemt confirmed not only Bohrs atomic theory, but is also considered as the first experimental verification of einsteins special theory of relativity. Back then, it was only 10 years old and quite controverse
undercover_jellyfish t1_iujj4sy wrote
Reply to When and how was special relativity integrated into QM/QFT? by YouSchee
Niels Bohr postulated his atomic theory (circular orbitals) in 1913 in order to describe the spectra of hydrogen. A few years later, Arnold Sommerfeld extended Bohrs Model by considering elliptical orbitals and relativistic effects, since the electron is moving with around 1% of the speed of light. With this extension, sommerfeld could explain for the very first time the finestructure of the hydrogen spectra. This agreenemt confirmed not only Bohrs atomic theory, but is also considered as the first experimental verification of einsteins special theory of relativity. Back then, it was only 10 years old and quite controverse