Lab Experiments 87

KamalJeeth Instrumentation and Service Unit

Experiment-362 A

EXPERIMENTAL VERIFICATION OF
THE ZEEMAN EFFECT
Jeethendra Kumar P K and J Anil Kumar
KamalJeeth Instrumentation & Service Unit, No-610, Tata Nagar, Bengaluru-560092. INDIA.
Email: labexperiments@rediffmail.com

Abstract
Using a digital constant deviation spectrograph, electromagnet and neon
discharge tube, the normal Zeeman effect is observed. The micrometer eye piece is
calibrated in nanometers using the standard mercury spectral lines and the width
of the ladder fringes is determined from which the charge to mass ratio of
electron is calculated.

Introduction

Electrons in an atom revolve around the nucleus in fixed quantized orbits, each with definite
energy. By providing external energy in the form of heat, electrons can be excited to higher
energy levels. An excited electron that goes to a higher energy level comes back to its
original energy level by giving off the excess energy in the form of light of various
wavelengths, called the spectrum that is characteristic of a given element. Hence electrons are
the source of light emitted by an atom. Different elements produce light of different colors
(wavelengths) depending on their atomic structure [1].

An electron revolving around the nucleus of an atom is considered as the source of current,
with an associated magnetic field with it. The interaction of this magnetic field produced by
electrons with an externally applied magnetic field is called Zeeman effect (1896), named
after its inventor, Dutch physicist Pieter Zeeman.

Figure-1: Albert Einstein and Ehrenfest visiting Pieter Zeeman in Amsterdam

(Picture courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieter_Zeeman)
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Pieter Zeeman (1865 1943) shared the 1902 Nobel Prize in Physics with Hendrik Lorentz
for discovering the Zeeman effect. Lorentz explained the phenomena theoretically which
confirmed Lorentz's earlier prediction on the polarization of light emitted in the presence of a
magnetic field. Hence the Zeeman effect became an important tool for investigating the
structure of atom.

Neon Spectrum

Neon (Z=10), a colorless inert noble gas with about 2% abundance in the atmosphere, was
discovered by Sir William Ramsay (1898) for which he received the 1904 Nobel Prize in
Physics. A neon discharge tube provides a good technique for studying the Zeeman effect.
Neon produces several spectral lines in the red wavelength region. Figure-2 (color
photograph given on the front cover page) shows the spectrum of light emitted by neon.
Table-1 gives the prominent lines and their wavelengths. Neon also emits one green spectral
line. All these lines are found to split due to the Zeeman effect. However, most of these lines
exhibit anomalous Zeeman effect. The prominent yellow line (585nm) produces the normal
Zeeman effect. Hence in this experiment the emphasis is on splitting of the yellow line due to
the normal Zeeman effect. The Zeeman effect observed along the axis of applied magnetic
field is called the anomalous Zeeman effect whereas the Zeeman effect observed
perpendicular to the direction of the applied magnetic field is called the normal Zeeman
effect [3-7].

Figure-2: The spectrum of Neon (color picture given on the front cover page)

Table-1
Color (nm) Color (nm) Color (nm)
Green 540.1 Orange 616.4 Red 659.9
Yellow 585.2 Red 626.6 Red 692.9
Yellow 588.2 Red 633.3 Red 703.2
Orange 603.0 Red 640.2 - -
Orange 607.4 Red 650.6 - -
Spectral lines of Neon

These spectral lines originate from electronic transitions between various energy levels [2].
For the case of neon, 10 electrons in the neutral neon atom have a ground-state configuration
as 1s22s22p6. The n = 1 and 2 shells are completely filled and the atom has S = L = J = 0,
making the ground state 1s0 in spectroscopic notation. The next higher energy levels are in

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the next shell (n=3) are 3s and 3p. Therefore, transitions between these two energy levels are
responsible for the observed neon spectrum.

The neon atom can thus be considered as a pair of particles - a hole in the n = 2 shell and an
electron in the n = 3 shell. Thus all the 9 unexcited electrons can be treated as a single
particle - a hole. If we label the excited electron as particle-1 and the hole as particle-2, the
upper level for the transitions (2p53p1) has l1 = 1, s1 = 1/2, l2 = 1, and s2 = 1/2. The lower
level for the transitions (2p 53s1) has l1 = 0, s1 = 1/2, l2 = 1, and s2 = 1/2.

Thus, for the 2p 53p 1 electronic configuration of neon, the possible values of L are 0, 1, and 2,
resulting in S, P, and D states of the atom. The 2p53s1 configuration can lead only to a P state
of the atom.

Zeeman effect in Neon

Electrons moving in a circular orbit undergo deflection when a magnetic field (B) is applied
parallel to the plane of its motion. The electrons either accelerate or decelerate (slow down)
by the applied magnetic field. If o is the orbital frequency of the electron without the
magnetic field, the frequency in the presence of a magnetic field is given by

o 1

where = 2

where e is the electron charge

B is magnetic field applied
m is mass of electron and
o is permeability of free space

The change in the frequency of electron motion, results in three separate energy levels,
namely o, (o+ ) and (o - ).

As velocity and wavelength are connected by the relation

c = , hence change in the frequency can be written as

= 3

Substituting for in Equation-2, we get

Where
=

Thus change in the wavelength is given by

= 4

The change in the wavelength of the light is given by Equation-4. Hence there will be three
wavelengths for each transition. This is based purely on the classical treatment which is also

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substantiated by the quantum theory. Thus a spectral line splits into three lines in the
presence of a magnetic field, with wavelengths

, (-) and (+)

=
5

Broadening of the sodium spectral line was first observed in 1896 when a flame of sodium
was placed between pole pieces of a powerful magnet [1]. However, to observe Zeeman
effect, one cannot use the sodium vapor lamp commonly used in laboratories as it has large
(50mm) diameter because of which the magnetic field produced by the magnet is not strong
and uniform. Hence we have selected the neon discharge tube with about 5mm diameter.

An atom is characterized by three important quantum numbers, namely the principle quantum
number (n), the orbital quantum number (l), and the magnetic quantum number (ml). The
principal quantum number, n, describes the energy level of the electron. It is for this reason
that the shells of electrons are denoted by n in the periodic table, where a higher value of n
indicates a higher energy level. The orbital quantum number, l, determines the orbital angular
momentum of an electron, L, which follows the relation

L2 = l(l+1) 6

The orbital quantum number, l, depends on the principle quantum number, n, as

l = 0, 1, 2 (n-1) and h is Plancks constant

Finally, the magnetic quantum number, ml describes the quantization of the z-component of
the orbital angular momentum of an electron, LZ, given by.

LZ = mI 7

As the subscript suggests, there is a relationship between ml and l, given by

ml= -l, -l+1, +l

An electron revolving around the nucleus of an atom in an orbit can be treated as constituting
a tiny loop of current, I, generating an orbital magnetic moment,

I=AI 8

where I is the current, and

A is the area of the loop.

The current I= -e/T, where T is time. If v denotes the velocity of the electron and 2r is the
distance travelled (i.e. circumference of its orbit), then

= T, or

I= 9

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Multiplying and dividing I by the mass of electron (m) and substituting for I in Equation-8,
one gets

= A 10

The area of the electron orbit A=r2, hence

=
r2

=
L 11

where L = mvr is the angular momentum of the electron, which is quantized and has discrete
values as given by the rules of quantum mechanics.

If an external uniform magnetic field, B, is applied to an electron, a torque is exerted as its

orbital magnetic moment tries to rearrange itself to the lowest possible potential energy,
parallel and opposite to the direction of the magnetic field lines. The magnetic potential
energy is given by

VB = IB

Taking the Z direction as the direction of the applied magnetic field

VB = B

Since L is quantized, the magnetic potential energy is also quantized. Changing the notation
z
of V to E, the energy difference which arises as a result of the applied field and
B
substituting for LZ, we obtain the following relationship for the energy gap for the case when
a magnetic field is applied to the orbital

E = B

E = =

where B = is the Bohr magnetron which represents the electron magnetic dipole

moment.

For l=1, ml can take three different values as a result of which the energy level splits into
three and for l =2, ml can take five different values of energy level, as shown in Figure-3.
Further, the transitions are governed by various conservation laws that determine the
transitions that are allowed and those which are forbidden. The allowed transitions are
specified by a set of conditions, called selection rules, which for these states are as follows

l = 1
L = 0,1
S = 0

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J = 0,1
ml = 0, 1.
Hence only three possible transitions can occur that result in three spectral lines. The yellow
(585nm) spectral line splits into three lines, as shown in Figure-3.

In this experiment one can observe this splitting and if the theory is valid, the electron charge
to mass ratio is given by

=
5

m l =2
m l =1
l=2 m l =0
m l =-1
m l =-2

m l =1
l=1 m l =0
m l =-1

ml = +1 ml = 0 ml = -1

=585nm - +

Figure-3: Energy level splitting of a line in a magnetic field

One can get accurate value of from this relation. Hence from the experiment we need to
measure . The CDS prism resolution is very low for identifying this small value of
splitting. Hence we have used a Fabry-Perot etalon along with a CDS prism.

Fabry-Perot etalon

An etalon consists of an arrangement with two parallel polished glass plates separated by a
distance of 2-3mm between them. When an etalon is held in front of a monochromatic light

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source, black and colored interference fringes are seen, as shown in Figure-4. Since neon
gives several lines in the red region, each one of them produces an interference fringe pattern
in which fringes overlap with each other. Using a narrow slit, one can observe only a portion
of such fringe system as horizontal lines, as shown in Figure-4. By adjusting the slit width
one can observe only a part of fringe pattern as horizontal lines on the spectral lines. We call
this fringe pattern as the ladder fringe. The yellow spectral line (585nm) has yellow and black
lines in the ladder fringe and red line has red and black ladder fringes, as shown in Figure-4.
By adjusting the slit width, one can separate the red and orange ladder fringes.

Figure-4: Etalon fringe pattern and its appearance employing a slit

Digital Constant Deviation Spectrograph (DCDS)

Figure-5: Digital constant deviation spectrograph

The digital constant deviation spectrograph used in this experiment is shown in Figure-5. The
mechanical movement of the drum in the conventional CDS is replaced by motion sensors
which rotate the prism table holding the constant deviation prism. A microcontroller based
wavelength meter records the wavelength as well as intensity of the spectral line. A

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photodiode is used as a sensor to record the intensity. A software program is loaded in the
microcontroller after calibrating it with the standard mercury spectrum.

Measurement of the fringe width

To determine , a special micrometer eye piece with a cross wire is provided along with the
DCDS. Figure-6 shows the micrometer eye-piece. Only one line is provided in the cross-
wire that can be fitted vertically or horizontally, as shown in Figure-7, by rotating the entire
micrometer eye piece set.

Figure-6: Micrometer eye piece with crosswire movement and micrometer scale
provided with it

(a) (b)
Figure-7: Cross wire in (a) horizontal position, (b) vertical position

The micrometer screw gauge reads the position of the cross wire. The micrometer is
graduated in mm. Hence one should first calibrate it in nano-meters (nm) before making any
measurements. To calibrate the micrometer, we have used the standard mercury spectral
lines. Before performing the Zeeman effect experiment, the mercury spectrum is observed
through the DCDS and its prominent wavelengths, green, orange-1 lines are coincided with
vertical cross wire of the micrometer eye-piece and the distance between the two spectral
lines is calculated as:

Green : 546nm, Orange-1; 587nm

The difference in the above two wavelengths = 31nm

The vertical cross wire is coincided with the green line and micrometer reading in the
micrometer eye-piece is noted

Dgreen= 6.11mm
The vertical cross wire is now coincided with Orange-1 line, and again the micrometer
reading is noted

DOrange-1= 4.33mm

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The micrometer is moved by a distance of (6.11mm - 4.33mm) = 1.78mm to cover the

wavelength range of 546-587nm. Thus
1.78mm change in the micrometer position corresponds to 31nm wavelength.
1.78mm change in micrometer corresponds to 31nm

Therefore 1mm graduation on the micro-meter is =. = 17.415 wavelength.

1mm= 17.415nm

This is an important part of the experiment to calibrate the micrometer in terms of

wavelength. The manufacturer provides this data in the instruction manual. Alternatively, it
is also displayed on the micrometer eye-piece. Different DCDS units have slightly different
values of the conversion factor which one can determine by experiment.

Electromagnet
A 15KGauss electromagnet, neatly wound with tapered pole pieces, supplied by Optiregion,
Delhi, is used for this experiment. By making tapered pole-pieces, the magnetic field is made
uniform and intense as shown in Figure-8.

N S

N S
Figure-8: (Above) Flat pole pieces producing non-uniform magnetic field
(Below) Tapered pole pieces producing uniform and intense magnetic field

Apparatus used

The Zeeman effect experimental set-up used in this experiment consists of : an electromagnet
15K Gauss, electromagnet power supply 75V/5A, neon discharge tube, discharge tube power
supply 6.5KV, digital constant deviation spectrograph, and Fabry-Perot etalon. The complete
experimental set-up is shown in Figure-9.

Experimental procedure

The experiment consists of three parts, namely

Part-A: Calibration of the electromagnet

Part-B: Observing the Zeeman effect and determination of e/m
Part-C: Verification of polarization caused by the Zeeman splitting

Part-A: Calibration of the electromagnet

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1. The electromagnet pole pieces are adjusted such that the distance between the two
pole pieces is exactly 10mm.
2. The power supply to the electromagnet is connected and it is switched on.

3. The digital gauss meter probe is held between the two pole-pieces of the magnet fixed
on a wooden stand and placed exactly at the centre of the pole pieces.

4. The current to the electromagnet is varied through the variac of the power supply and
is set to 0.5A. The magnetic field produced by 0.5A current is noted in the digital
gauss meter and tabulated in Table-2.

Figure-9: Experimental set-up for demonstrating the Zeeman effect

Table-2
Magnet current (A) Magnetic field (K Gauss)
0.5 2.13
1.0 4.32
1.5 6.35
2.0 8.32
2.5 10.11
3.0 11.58
3.5 12.65
4.0 13.45
4.5 14.13
5.0 14.15
5.5 15.22
Current through the electromagnet and the corresponding magnetic field produced

1. The current to the electromagnet is increased to 1A and the corresponding magnetic

field is noted.

2. The current is increased up to 5A in steps and for each case the corresponding
magnetic field produced is noted.

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3. A graph is drawn with current along the X-axis and magnetic field along the Y-axis,
as shown in Figure-10. This is the standard graph for a given magnet which is referred
to in the second part of the experiment.
16

Magnetic field (K Gauss)

14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Magnet current (A)

Figure-10: Magnetic field variation with current through the electromagnet

Part-B: Observing the Zeeman effect and determination of e/m of an

electron

4. Decreasing the current through the electromagnet to zero, the Hall probe is now
removed from the gap between the two pole-pieces. Without disturbing the gap
between the pole pieces, a neon lamp is placed between them, as shown in Figure-11.
The discharge tube is now connected to the high voltage power supply which is
switched on.

Figure-11: The neon lamp placed in between the two pole pieces

5. The digital CDS is now placed with its arm containing the slit facing the neon light
and placed closed to the pole pieces.

6. Viewing through another arm of the DCDS, the neon spectrum is observed as shown
in Figure-2. By adjusting the slit width, the spectrum is seen to consist of very fine
lines.

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7. The slit is adjusted so that the spectrum is very clear and fine. The 585nm line is
focused to the centre of the field of view.

8. The slit is adjusted such that the spectral lines are clean. The 585nm line is focused at
the centre of the field of view.

9. The Fabry-Perot etalon is now introduced in between the prism and the slit, with the
smaller diameter face of the etalon facing the slit and the larger diameter face facing
the prism inside the DCDS in an inclined manner, as shown in Figure-12. When the
etalon is introduced, the weaker spectral lines (especially green) disappear from the
field of view. The weaker lines disappear during multiple reflections between the two
etalon plates and, therefore, these lines, being faint, disappear from the field of view.

Figure-12: Etalon introduced before the prism

Figure-13: Appearance of neon spectrum after introducing the etalon

10. The etalon is adjusted in its position by moving left/right or up/down so that black
dots (fringes) appear on the vertical spectral lines, as shown in Figure-13. The spectral
lines appear dotted as seen in Figure-13.

11. The black horizontal lines are the portion of the circular interference fringes due to
etalon. If you remove the etalon, the ladder fringes disappear.

12. The slit width of the DCDS is now increased. As the slit width increases, the width of
the black dots also increases and they appear as horizontal lines. These are the ladder
fringes as shown in Figure-14. Finer adjustment of the etalon is done to get the lines

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exactly horizontal. Among these, the 585nm yellow line is focused at the centre of the
field of view.

13. The electromagnet is now switched on and current is slowly increased keeping a
watch on the yellow ladder fringes. As the current through the electromagnet is
increased, the spectral lines and the ladder fringes become progressively brighter. For
a certain value of current the ladder fringes come close or splitting takes place, as
shown in Figure-14. The current where the splitting takes place is recorded and the
magnetic field corresponding to the current is noted from the graph.

Figure-14: Horizontal cross wire adjusted on the ladder fringe pattern

Current I = 2.55A
Corresponding B= 10K Gauss = 1Tesla

Figure-15: Original ladder fringes (left); Zeeman splitting as indicated by the presence
of multiple fringes (right)

14. The micrometer eye-piece is now positioned horizontally and the cross wire is moved
up and made to coincide with any one of the horizontal fringes, say with the fringe-0
(0th fringe), as shown in Figure-14. The micrometer reading corresponding to this
position is noted.

Rfringe-0 =7.84 mm

15. The micrometer eye-piece is now moved down counting exactly 10 fringes from the
0th fringe and is coincided with the 10th fringe and the reading corresponding to this
position is noted.

Rfringe-10 = 6.54mm
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Thus the distance between 10 fringes = 7.84 - 6.54 =1.3mm

.
Therefore the fringe width w = = 0.13mm, and the wavelength corresponding to

this fringe width

= 0.13 x17.415nm =2.263nm

16. The ratio e/m is calculated using Equation-5

.
= = = = 1.66510 C/Kg
. .

Part-C: Verification of the polarization caused by the Zeeman splitting

Figure-16: Polarizer fitted to on the micrometer eye piece of DCDS

17. A polarizer is now fitted on to the eye piece, as shown in Figure-16. The polarizer is
slowly rotated (in any direction) and diminishing of the intensity of the two fringes
occurring between fringes is observed. Continuing the rotation slowly in the same
direction, the two lines disappear and any further rotation in the same direction makes
them reappear. This shows that the lines resulting from Zeeman splitting are
polarised.

Results

The experimentally determined e/m ratio of electron = 1.665x10 11 C/Kg, which is in close
agreement with the standard value 1.758x1011C/Kg.

Reference

[1] Francis A Jerkins and Harvey E White, Fundamental of Optics, McGraw-Hill

International Edition, Page-679.

[2] Vachon, Brigitte. Quantum Physics ,Physics 446, McGill University, Montreal, QC.

[3] Ed. Carl R. Nave, Zeeman Effect Hyper physics, Georgia State University, 2005.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/quantum/zeeman.html>.

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[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieter_Zeeman

[5] http://www.phys.utk.edu/labs/modphys/Zeeman%20Effect.pdf

[6] http://www.ugrad.physics.mcgill.ca/Library/Zeeman-Horrocks-Myles.pdf

[7] http://research.whnlive.com/PEMF/Waveform/Phys122_Zeeman_2003.pdf

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