2∫ r0 e−r2/n r dr = 1 − e−r2/n
n

(4),

or, which is the same thing, the probability of an amplitude greater than r is

e−r2/n

(5).

The accompanying table gives the probabilities of intensities less than the fractions of n named in the first column. For example, the probability of intensity less than n is .6321.

.05.0488 .80.5506
.10.09521.00.6321
.20.18131.50.7768
.40.32962.00.8647
.60.45123.00.9502

It will be seen that, however great n may be, there is a fair chance of considerable relative fluctuations of intensity in consecutive combinations.

The mean intensity, expressed by

2∫ ∞0 e−r2/n · r2 · r dr,
n