Abstract
In a recent review, Brown, Lockman and Knapp (1978, to be referred to as BLK) say that radio recombination lines have been observed at frequencies from 0.242 GHz to 86 GHz. In the present paper I discuss the radio lines and also the recombination lines observed in the infrared, optical and ultraviolet spectral regions; this takes us out to He+ 2α at 1.83 MGHz (λ = 1640 Å). I will attempt to provide some historical perspective and to present a simple conceptual approach to the basic ideas of the theory. I will not give all of the detailed formulae which can be found in the literature (see, for example, Brocklehurst and Seaton (1972, to be referred to as BS)); nor will I attempt any detailed discussion of the radio observations, since these problems have been discussed by BLK and will be discussed further by other speakers at the present meeting.
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Seaton, M.J. (1980). Theory of Recombination Lines. In: Shaver, P.A. (eds) Radio Recombination Lines. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 80. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-9024-1_1
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