Atomic, molecular and laser physics

PHY-331

Solution Set # 5

December 26, 2011

Zeeman eect and hyperne interaction

Solution 1. (a) Weak eld
The energies of hydrogens n = 3 levels, when placed in a weak magnetic eld, are shown
in the Table. The correction to energy in a weak magnetic eld is,
E = gJ B mj Bext
where,
gJ = 1 +
B =

j(j + 1) + 3/4 l(l + 1)

2j(j + 1)

e~

2me

The energy corrections are relative to the respective ne-structure levels (dened by n, l, j)
as shown in Figure 1.

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3p3/2
(1/2,1/2)

3s1/2

(1/2,-1/2)

ext

= ext

=ext

(1/2,1/2)

3p1/2

2p3/2
(1/2,1/2)

2s1/2

(1/2,-1/2)

(1/2,1/2)

1s1/2

(3/2,3/2) = 2ext
(3/2,1/2) = 2/3
ext
(3/2,-1/2) = 2/3
ext
(3/2,-3/2) = 2

= ext

= ext

2p1/2

(1/2,-1/2)
(3/2,3/2)
(3/2,1/2)
(3/2,-1/2)
(3/2,-3/2)

3d5/2

(5/2,5/2) = 3
(5/2,3/2) = 9/5 extext
(5/2,1/2) = 3/5 ext
(5/2,-1/2) = 3/5 ext
(5/2,-3/2) = 9/5 ext
(5/2,-5/2) = 3ext
(3/2,3/2) = 6/5 ext

3d3/2

(3/2,1/2) = 2/5 ext

(3/2,-1/2) = 2/5 ext
(3/2,-3/2) = 6/5 ext

= 1/3ext

= 1/3ext

= 2ext
= 2/3ext
= 2/3ext
= 2ext

(1/2,1/2)

= 1/3ext

(1/2,-1/2)

= 1/3ext

= ext

(1/2,-1/2)
=ext

FIG. 1: Splitting of hydrogens n = 3 energy levels when placed in a weak magnetic eld. Above
each state, the values of j, mj are specied explicitly.

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mj

gJ

Eweak

1/2

1/2

B Bext

1/2

+1/2

+B Bext

1/2

1/2

2/3

B B3 ext

1/2

+1/2

2/3

+ B B3 ext

3/2

3/2

2B Bext

3/2

1/2

4/3

2B3Bext

3/2

+1/2

4/3

+ 2B3Bext

3/2

+3/2

+2B Bext

3/2

3/2

12/5

6B5Bext

3/2

1/2

4/5

2B5Bext

3/2

+1/2

4/5

+ 2B5Bext

3/2

+3/2

12/5

+ 6B5Bext

5/2

5/2

3B Bext

5/2

3/2

18/5

9B5Bext

5/2

1/2

6/5

3B5Bext

5/2

+1/2

6/5

+ 3B5Bext

5/2

+3/2

18/5

+ 9B5Bext

5/2

+5/2

+3B Bext

There are total 10 transitions which are possible from the n = 3 levels to the n = 1 levels.
They are,
3p1/2 1s1/2

4 transitions

3p3/2 1s1/2

6 transitions.

No transitions are possible between 3s and 1s, 3d and 1s.

(b) Strong Field
The Table of energies, for the hydrogen atom when placed in a strong magnetic eld, is
shown in Figure 2. The shift in energy for the strong eld is,
Estrong = B (ml + 2ms ) Bext .
This perturbation is applied before the spin-orbit interaction. The Fine-structure correction
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is,
Ef s

(
)
En2 ml ms 4l(l + 1)
=
+ 3 , and is applicable for l > 0 only.
2mc2 l(l + 1)(l + 1/2)

ml

ms

ml + 2ms

EZeeman

Efs

1/2

B Bext

+1/2

+1

+B Bext

1/2

2B Bext

1/2

B Bext

1/2

+1/2

+1/2

+1

+B Bext

+1/2

+2

+2B Bext

1/2

3B Bext

1/2

1/2

B Bext

1/2

2B Bext

1/2

+1

+B Bext

+1/2

B Bext

+1/2

+2

+2B Bext

+1/2

+1

+B Bext

+1/2

+1/2

+3

+3B Bext

2
En
4mc2
2
En
6mc2
2
En
12mc2
2
En
12mc2
2
En
6mc2
2
En
4mc2
2
11En
15mc2
2
43En
60mc2
2
7En
10mc2
2
41En
60mc2
2
2En
3mc2
2
11En
15mc2
2
41En
60mc2
2
7En
10mc2
2
43En
60mc2
2
11En
15mc2

There is total 4 transitions which are possible from n = 3 level to n = 1 energy level. They
are,
3p 1s

4 transitions.

The selection rules used are l = 1, ml = 0, 1, (transition from 0 to 0 is not allowed)

and ms = 0.
Solution 2.
The distinct spectral lines resulting from 2p1/2 1s1/2 are shown in the Figure 3. When
placed inside a weak magnetic eld, the correction to the energy relative to the ne-structure
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3d

(0,1/2)

3s

(0,-1/2)

(2,1/2)
= 3ext
(-1,1/2)
= 2 ext
(0,1/2)
(2,-1/2) =
ext
(1,1/2)
(-1,-1/2) = 0
(0,-1/2)
(-2,1/2)
=ext
(1,-1/2)
= 2 ext
(-2,-1/2)
= 3ext
(1,1/2)

= ext

= ext

3p

= 2 ext

(0,1/2)
(-1,1/2)
(1,-1/2)
(0,-1/2)
(-1,-1/2)

= ext
=0
=ext
= 2 ext

(1,1/2)
(0,1/2)

2s

(0,-1/2)

(0,1/2)

1s

= ext

= ext

2p

= 2 ext

(0,1/2)
(-1,1/2)
(1,-1/2)
(0,-1/2)
(-1,-1/2)

= ext
=0
=ext
= 2 ext

= ext

(0,-1/2)
=ext

FIG. 2: Splitting of hydrogens n = 3 energy levels when placed in a strong magnetic eld. Above
each state, the values of ml , ms are explicitly specied. These lines further split up into dierent
states (called ne-structure splitting), which are not shown in this diagram.

levels is,
E = gJ B mj Bext

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where,
j(j + 1) + 3/4 l(l + 1)
2j(j + 1)
mj = j, j 1, . . . , j + 1, j, and
e~
B =

2me
gJ = 1 +

(1/2,1/2)

=ext
3

(1/2, -1/2)

=ext
3

2p1/2

(1/2,1/2)

=ext

1s1/2
(1/2, -1/2)

= ext

FIG. 3: The distinct spectral lines resulting from 2p1/2 1s1/2 transitions. For each energy
level, values of j, mj are explicitly specied in brackets. The E s mentioned are with respect
to the degenerate levels.

The wavenumbers corresponding to the 2p1/2 1s1/2 transitions are,

2p(1/2,1/2) 1s(1/2,1/2)

2p(1/2,+1/2) 1s(1/2,1/2)

2p(1/2,1/2) 1s(1/2,+1/2)
2p(1/2,+1/2) 1s(1/2,+1/2)

2B Bext
3hc
2B Bext

hc
2B Bext 2B Bext
+

hc
3hc

The selection rules used are j = 0, 1, mj = 0, 1, l = 1.

Similarly, for the transition 2p3/2 1s1/2 , the distinct spectral lines are shown in Figure 4.

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(3/2,3/2)
(3/2,1/2)

= 2ext
= 2ext
3

2p3/2
(3/2, -1/2)

=2ext
3
=2ext

(3/2, -3/2)

(1/2,1/2)

= ext

1s1/2

=ext

(1/2, -1/2)

FIG. 4: The distinct spectral lines resulting from 2p3/2 1s1/2 transitions. For each energy level,
values of j, mj are specied explicitly in brackets. Once again, the E s are with respect to
the degenerate levels.

The wavenumbers corresponding to these transitions are,

2p(3/2,3/2) 1s(1/2,1/2)
2p(3/2,1/2) 1s(1/2,1/2)
2p(3/2,+1/2) 1s(1/2,1/2)
2p(3/2,1/2) 1s(1/2,+1/2)
2p(3/2,+1/2) 1s(1/2,+1/2)
2p(3/2,+3/2) 1s(1/2,1/2)

4B Bext
(3hc
)
4B Bext
+ 2
3hc
2B Bext 4B Bext

+
hc
(3hc
)
4B Bext
2B Bext

+2
hc
3hc
(
)
2B Bext
4B Bext

+3

hc
3hc
+

Solution 3.
To draw the energy level diagram for the hydrogen atom (I = 1/2), rst we need to know
the values of F for dierent j. The total quantum number F is given by F = j + I, j + I
1 , . . . |j I|. Therefore,
For n=1
l = 0, I = 1/2, j = 1/2,

F = 0, 1.

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For n=2
l = 0, 1, I = 1/2, j = 1/2,

F = 0, 1

j = 3/2,

F = 1, 2.

l = 0, 1, 2, I = 1/2, j = 1/2,

F = 0, 1

j = 3/2,

F = 1, 2

j = 5/2,

F = 1, 2, 3.

For n=3

All these energy levels are shown in Figure 5.

Similarly, for a nucleus with I = 3/2, the total quantum number F for dierent j s is,
For n=1
l = 0, I = 3/2, j = 1/2,

F = 1, 2.

For n=2
l = 0, 1, I = 3/2, j = 1/2,
j = 3/2,

F = 1, 2
F = 0, 1, 2, 3.

For n=3
l = 0, 1, 2, I = 3/2, j = 1/2,

F = 1, 2

j = 3/2,

F = 0, 1, 2, 3

j = 5/2,

F = 1, 2, 3, 4.

All these energy states are shown in Figure 6.

Solution 4.
For the 3d level of hydrogen,
n = 3, l = 2, j = 3/2,
j = 5/2,

mj = 3/2, 1/2, 1/2, 3/2, and

mj = 5/2, 3/2, 1/2, 1/2, 3/2, 5/2.
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Hydrogen (I=1/2)
n=3

3d5/2

3d5/2

F=3
F=2
F=1
F=2

F=2
3p3./2

3s1/2

3d3/2

3p1/2

3d3/2

3p3./2
F=1

F=1

F=1

F=1
3p1/2

3s1/2

n=2

F=0

F=0
F=2
2p3/2

2p3/2
F=1

F=1

F=1
2s1/2

2p1/2

2s1/2
F=0

2p1/2

n=1

F=0

F=1
1s1/2

1s1/2
F=0

Spin-Orbit Coupling

Hyperfine Interaction

FIG. 5: Grotrion diagram for hydrogen (I = 1/2).

is forming with z-axis is when

The minimum angle that the total angular momentum (J)

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Nucleus with I=3/2

n=3
3d5/2

3p3./2

3d3/2

3d5/2

F=4
F=3
F=2
F=1

3p3./2

F=3
F=2
F=1
F=0

3d3/2

F=2
3s1/2

3p1/2

3s1/2

F=2
3p1/2

F=1

n=2
2p3/2

2p3/2

F=1

F=3
F=2
F=1
F=0

F=2
2s1/2

2p1/2

F=3
F=2
F=1
F=0

2s1/2

F=2
2p1/2

F=1
n=1

F=1

F=2
1s1/2

1s1/2
F=1

Spin-Orbit Coupling

Hyperfine Interaction

FIG. 6: Grotrion diagram for a nucleus with I = 3/2.

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mj has the maximum value (mj = 5/2),
= cos

= cos

mj ~
j(j + 1) ~
5/2~

5/2(5/2 + 1) ~
(
)
1
= cos
0.845
= 32.3 .

Solution 5. The dierence in energy between the two kinds of photon is,
)
(
1
1

E = hc
1 2
(
)
1
1
= hc

589.0 109 m 589.6 109 m

= 3.43 1022 J
= 2.15 103 eV.
The origin of this energy lies in the interaction of magnetic moments, arising from the
and L
of an electron.
angular momentum S
int
E 2s .B
e
S,
s = gs
2me

where gs = 2 .

int are parallel (say both pointing along zdirection), then,

Suppose that m
s and B
|s | =
E =
3.43 1022 J =
|Bint |

e
e
Sz =
ms ~
me
me
e
2
ms ~ Bint
me
e

~Bint
me
3.43 1022 J 9.11 1031 kg
1.6 1019 J 1.054 1034 J.sec
18 T.

Solution 6.
From the electrons point of view, it is the proton that circles around and this orbital motion
and the
creates a magnetic eld at the center. Therefore, the spin angular momentum (S)
associated with an elecron are now interacting through their
orbital angular momentum (L)
magnetic moments.
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The Hamiltonian for spin-orbit coupling, including the Thomas precession eect (which adds
a factor of 1/2), is given by,
Hso =

e2
L.

S.
8m2 c2 r3

nor L
is separately conserved; the conserved
In the presence of spin-orbit coupling, neither S
+ S.

quantity is the total angular momentum, J = L

2 + S
2 + 2L.
S

J2 = L
L
= 1/2(J2 L
2 S
2)
S.
Therefore, the change in energy is,
Eso = n, l, j, mj |Hso |n, l, j, mj
L

e2
S.
=
n,
l,
j,
m
|
|n, l, j, mj
j
8m2 c2
r3
2 S
2)
e2
(J2 L
=
n,
l,
j,
m
|
|n, l, j, mj
j
8m2 c2
2r3
]
1 1[
e2
2
2
2

j(j
+
1)~

l(l
+
1)~

3/4~
,
=
8m2 c2 2r3 2
where,
J 2 | = j(j + 1)~2 |
L2 | = l(l + 1)~2 |
S 2 | = s(s + 1)~2 |
S 2 | = 3/4~2 |

(s = 1/2).

Note that the good quantum numbers after including the spin-orbit interaction are n, l, j, mj
instead of n, l, ml , ms .
Eso =

[
] 1
e2
2
2
2
j(j
+
1)~

l(l
+
1)~

3/4~
3 .
16m2 c2
2r

Using,

1
1
=
3
2r
l(l + 1/2)(l + 1)n3 a3

[
]
e2
1
2
2
2
j(j
+
1)~

l(l
+
1)~

3/4~
2
2
16m c
l(l + 1/2)(l + 1)n3 a3
(
)
j(j + 1) l(l + 1) 3/4
e 2 ~2
=

2
2
3
3
16m c a n
l(l + 1/2)(l + 1)

Eso =

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Now using the expression for the Bohr radius,
4~
,
me4
(
)
e 2 ~2
j(j + 1) l(l + 1) 3/4
=
16m2 c2 n3
l(l + 1/2)(l + 1)
(
)
me8
j(j + 1) l(l + 1) 3/4

=
(64 16) 4 c2 4 ~4 n3
l(l + 1/2)(l + 1)

a =
Eso

Since the Bohr energies are given by,

En(0)

( 2 )2
me
e
=
2 4~

and from the denition of ne structure constant,

=
We have
Eso

e2
,
4~c

( 2 )2 ( 2 )2 (
)
e
e
1 j(j + 1) l(l + 1) 3/4
me
=
4n2 4~
4~c n
l(l + 1/2)(l + 1)
)
(0) 2 (
j(j + 1) l(l + 1) 3/4
En
=
,
2n
l(l + 1/2)(l + 1)

indicating that the shift in energy due to the spin-orbit interaction is proportional to 2 .
Solution 7.
In the 4f -level of hydrogen, n = 4, l = 3, s = 1/2. The total angular momentum j can have
value in the range j = l + s, l + s 1, . . . |l s|. Therefore, j = 5/2, 7/2.
As a result, the 4f -level of hydrogen splits up into two levels due to the spin-orbit interactions. The energies corresponding to these ne-structure levels (relative to unperturbed
levels) is,
Ef s
For 4f5/2 ,

Ef s

and for 4f7/2 ,

Ef s

(
)
E1 2 3
2n
=

2n4
2 j + 1/2
7E1 2
,
=
3072
E1 2
=

1024

When we place the 4f levels in a weak magnetic eld, they split up further into 2j + 1
states. Therefore, the level with j = 5/2 is 2j + 1 = 6-fold degenerate and the level j = 7/2
is 2j + 1 = 8-fold degenerate; 4f5/2 splits into 6 states and 4f7/2 splits into 8 states, as shown
in Figure 7.
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(j,mj)
(7/2,7/2)
(7/2,5/2)
(7/2,3/2)
(7/2,1/2)
(7/2,-1/2)

4f7/2

(7/2,-3/2)
(7/2,-5/2)
(7/2,-7/2)

4f

(5/2,5/2)
(5/2,3/2)
(5/2,1/2)
(5/2,-1/2)
(5/2,-3/2)

4f5/2

(5/2,-5/2)

(j,mj)
Unperturbed
levels

Fine-structure
(including
spin-orbit
interaction)

Inside weak
magnetic field

FIG. 7: The ne-structure and Zeeman splitting of hydrogen 4f levels.

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