THE ZEEMAN EFFECT

AKASH K MISHRA
M.Sc PHYSICS,IITGN
Roll no:14510035
akash.mishra@iitgn.ac.in
April 1, 2015

Contents
1 ABSTRACT 2

2 INTRODUCTION 2

3 THEORY 2
3.1 Using Perturbation Theory: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

4 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE 4
4.1 Equipment Required: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

5 CALCULATION 8
5.1 Error Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

6 CONCLUSION 10

7 REFERENCES 10

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1 ABSTRACT
Electrons in atoms occupy states with well-defined energies. When an electron transitions
from a higher energy state to a lower energy state, a photon with energy equal to the
difference between the 2 energy state is emitted by the atom. By analyzing the properties
of the emitted photons, like wavelength and type of polarization, we can learn about the
states of the electron before and after the transition and also few more properties. For some
atoms, application of a magnetic field will change the properties of the emitted photons,
thus providing additional information about the initial and final states of the electron.

2 INTRODUCTION
In 1896 it was observed by Peter Zeeman that, when an atom is placed in an external
magnetic field, the spectral lines it emits in the transition process are split into several com-
ponents.And it has been observed experimentally that the splitting is directly proportional
to the strength of the applied magnetic field.This phenomena is known as Zeeman Effect.
Clearly, the Zeeman effect indicates that the energy levels of the atom are split into several
components in the presence of an external magnetic field. In certain special cases, which
were called normal Zeeman effect, these energy-level splittings could be understood in
terms of a classical theory developed by Lorentz. But in general cases, which were called
anomalous zeeman effect, can only be understood if we use the concept of spin of elec-
tron which is purely quantum mechanical and it cant be explained by any classical theory
of physics.

3 THEORY
The theory and the physical concept lies behind the Zeeman effect is the Lorentz force and the
magnetic moment.Magnetic moments are a key part of understanding the Zeeman effect.The
whole problem is to understand why the spectral lines or the energy levels of atoms split
into 2l + 1 distinct value for a given l (orbital angular momentum) when a uniform magnetic
field is turn on.
One way to approach the problem is following..Atoms consists of lots of electron and
classically we can consider the electrons moves around the nucleus in certain orbit and
constitute a loop of current . When an electrical current I circulates in a loop of wire with
area (A = .a2 ) there is an associated magnetic moment given by = .L where is the
e


gyro-magnetic ratio which is generally 2m
when a magnetic field will turn on, this case can be consider as a magnetic moment
placed in an magnetic field.Hence it will experience a torque = B and also it will have
an interaction energy
Ez = .B (1)
Now let consider the simplest case of Hydrogen atom in which there is only one electron

2
orbiting the nucleus.From the fine structure of hydrogen atom we know that the energy of
electron is given by
2
  
13.6 n
Ef s = 1+ 2 3/4 (2)
n2 n l + 1/2
It is clear from the above expression of energy that , for same value of l we will get same
energy.Hence the energy is not dependent on the magnetic quantum number(ml ).
So clearly we have 2l + 1 degeneracy.
When the magnetic field is applied it will break the 2l + 1 degeneracy by breaking the
spherical symmetry as follows.

Enew = Ef s .BN ow (3)

e
.B = B.L
2m
If we will apply the magnetic field in the z direction
e
.B = .Bz Lz
2m
e
= Bz h
ml
2m
.B = B ml Bz g
e
h
where B = ( 2m ) is called Bohr magneton and g is the lande g factor.
Putting this value in equation 3 we will get

Enew = Ef s + B ml Bz (4)

If we will also consider the spin of the electron in place of ml in equation 4 we will have mj
where j = l + s is the total angular momentum and equation 4 can be written as

Enew = Ef s + B mj Bz (5)

3.1 Using Perturbation Theory:

The same problem of hydrogen atom above can also be solved by using the time independent
perturbation theory.Here we have to consider the interaction energy of the magnetic moment
as a small perturbation which is given by

Hz = (l + s ).Bext (6)
e
where l = 2m .L is the magnetic dipole moment associated with the orbital motion of
electron and l = me .S is the magnetic dipole moment associated with the electron spin.
So the first order correction to this perturbation is given by

E1z = hnljmj |H1z |nljmj i (7)

3
 e
= Bext .hL + 2Si
2m
again
    
S.J j(j + 1) l(l + 1) + 3/4
hL + 2Si = 1+ 2 J = 1+ hJi (8)
J 2j(j + 1

The term in the square bracket is the Lande g factor.

If we choose the magnetic field along the z-axis; then

E1z = B mj Bz g (9)

where B = 2me
h
= 5.788 105 eV /T is so called Bohr magneton.
The splitting of energy level and possible transition between p and d orbital due to the
Zeeman effect is shown in figure bellow.

effect.png

Figure 1: Splitting of Energy Levels in Magnetic Field

4 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
1. The aim of this experiment is to show the splitting of energy levels of electron in an
atom when placed in a magnetic field.Here i have used the Fabry-parot Interferometer
to show the splitting of the interference fringes by using Mercury(Hg) light.The
experimental set-up is shown below in figure 2.

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 Figure 2: EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP

4.1 Equipment Required:

Electromagnets
Magnet power supply : to adjust magnetic field
Gauss meter : to measure magnetic field
Digital voltmeter
Mercury Lamp
Mercury lamp power supply
Fabry-perot Interferometer
Camera

2. Before starting the experiment we have to check the magnetic fields at different current
which is given in table below.It is the calibration of magnetic field at different current
and also the variation between current and magnetic field is shown in figure 3.

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 Sr No. Current(Amp) Magnetic field B (Gauss) Average B
Increment Decrement
1 0 450 510 480
2 0.25 2030 2320 2175
3 0.5 3370 3910 3640
4 0.75 4710 5280 4995
5 1 6070 6680 6375
6 1.25 7390 7950 7670
7 1.5 8690 9300 8995
8 1.75 10020 10520 10270
9 2 11270 11790 11530
10 2.25 12550 12960 12775
11 2.5 13740 14070 13905
12 2.75 14890 15120 15005
13 3 15930 16000 15965

cal.png

Figure 3: Magnetic field Calibaration

3. Now the Mercury lamp is inserted in between the poles of the electromagnet by switch-
ing the magnetic field off i.e in the absence of magnetic field.As the light from the
mercury lamp incident on the lens of the fabry-perot interferometer the interference
fringes were obtained shown in figure bellow and the radius along with some other data
of the fringes are given in the table.

Fringes Dimeter(pixcel) Radius(pixcel) Radius(m)106 Radius2 (m2 ) 106 2n = 2m+n

m 310 155 434 0.188 0
1 602 301 842.8 0.710 0.522
2 870 435 1218 1.483 1.295
3 1002 501 1402.8 1.967 1.779
4 1124 562 1573.6 2.476 2.288

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Figure 4: No Spliting of Spectral line in the absence of magnetic field

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 So the average thickness of the etalon is found to be 3.973 103
4. Now when the magnetic field B = 13905G is applied the circular fringes splitted into 3
as shown in figure below.Here each initial fringes are 1,2,3..... and the splitted fringes
are a,b,c.The radius of each splitted fringes is given in table below.

field.png

Figure 5: Spliting of fringes in the presence of Magnetic field

Ring No Splitted rings and spacing(Radius2 ) Average

a ab b bc c
1 0.31 0.141 0.451 0.139 0.59
12 0.502 0.52 0.524 0.5153
2 0.812 0.159 0.971 0.143 1.114
23 0.538 0.512 0.486 0.512
3 1.35 0.133 1.483 0.117 1.6
34 0.494 0.4927 0.5 0.4955
4 1.844 0.1317 1.9757 0.1243 2.1
< ab >=0.1411 < bc >=0.1308 < >=0.50762

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 Ring No Splitted ring Dimeter(pixcel) Radius(pixcel) Radius(m)106 Rad2 (m) 106
a 398 199 557.2 0.31
1 b 480 240 672 0.451
c 548 274 767.2 0.59
a 644 322 901.6 0.812
3 b 704 352 985.6 0.971
c 754 377 1055.6 1.114
a 830 415 1162 1.35
3 b 870 435 1218 1.483
c 904 452 1265.6 1.6
a 970 485 1358 1.844
4 b 1004 502 1405.6 1.9757
c 1036 518 1450.4 2.1

Table 1: Radius of the rings after splitting

5 CALCULATION
Here the
B ab + bc
=
hc B
where
< ab > < bc >
ab = , andbc =
2t < > 2t < >
<ab > <bc >
B ab + bc 2t<>
+ 2t<>
= =
hc B B
0.1411 0.1308
B 23.973103 0.50762
+ 23.973103 0.50762 34.9816 + 32.4280
= =
hc 13905G 13905
B
= 4.84 103 m/G
hc

5.1 Error Analysis

The actual value of hcB = 4.67 103 m/G
And the value found from above experiment is 4.84 103 m/G
Hence the Percentage of error

(4.84 4.67) 103

 
100 = 3.64%
4.67 103

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6 CONCLUSION
B
From the above experiment of Zeeman Effect on Mercury light the value of the constant hc
is found to be 4.84 103 m/G with 3.64% of error.

7 REFERENCES
1. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics by David J Griffith

2. Modern Physics by R Murugeshan

3. Atomic Physics by Dimitry Budker,Derek F. Kimball & David P. Demille

4. www.google.com

5. wikipdia

6. IITGN Physics lab manual

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