Zeeman effect: An atom in a state with its orbital quantum number l = 1 decays to its ground state (with l = 0). A photon of wavelength 630.000 nm is emitted in the process. When the same process takes place in the presence of an intense magnetic field, the following change in the spectrum is observed. With the magnetic field present, one of the emitted lines observed now has a wavelength of 630.030 nm. Which of the following wavelengths would you expect to be also present?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Zeeman effect causes the splitting of spectral lines into multiple components due to the presence of a magnetic field. The change in wavelength is symmetric around the original wavelength (630.000 nm in this case). Since one of the lines is observed at 630.030 nm, which is an increase of 0.030 nm, we would expect another line to be symmetrically placed on the other side of the original wavelength, decreasing by the same amount (0.030 nm), resulting in a wavelength of 629.970 nm.

Zeeman Effect: an Atom in a State with Its Orbital