Exchange effects in the absorption of light. I. Ca and Ca
+
The continuous absorption coefficients of normal Ca and Ca + are calculated. Both the discrete and continuous wave functions used in the calculation include the effect of electron exchange. Comparison is effected with results obtained neglecting exchange and it is found that appreciable modifications are introduced by its inclusion. This is particularly true for Ca + which is a sensitive case owing to very strong interference in the integrand of the transition matrix element. The bearing of the results on the calculation of absorption coefficients in general is discussed, and it is pointed out that the discrepancy between theory and experiment for potassium arises because this also is a very sensitive case. An application of the results for Ca is made to resolve a discrepancy between determinations of interstellar electron densities carried out using different methods by Strömgren and Struve.