An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A measure of the probability that a particular atomic transition leading to the formation of an atomic spectral line occurs. The coefficient of spontaneous emission is denoted by A_ij, and the coefficient of stimulated emission by B_ij, i representing the lower level and j is the upper level.

See also: Named after Albert Einstein (1879-1955) who introduced the coefficients in 1916; → coefficient.