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a tutorial session for two more case studies of time-independent perturbation theory
Zeeman effect is also a direct proof of the quantization of the angular momentum
If Zeeman effect is weak, it can be regarded as perturbations on those quantum states already corrected by fine-structure calculations.
Since degeneracy in angular momentum quantum numbers (j or ) are lifted already by fine-structure corrections, and because are diagonal in the representation, first-order Zeeman splitting is then given by the following expectation value
Calculating
projection of S on J
S J
projection on z
L
S and L precess around J, J itself precesses around Z
Lande g-factor
Hyperfine splitting
Electron dipole moment due to its spin Proton dipole moment due to its spin
Hyperfine structure is due to the interaction between the electron dipole and the proton dipole Magnetic field associated with the proton dipole:
So for zero orbital angular momentum states (hence no more degeneracy from the spatial wavefunctions), the hyperfine correction is given by
triplet state
singlet state
triplet
4 fold degeneracy
eV
singlet
Spin-orbit coupling: electron spin interacting with the magnetic field due to electrons orbital motion Proton magnetic dipole interacting with the electron spin
Summary
Though the hydrogen spectrum is highly degenerate, we may still easily apply non-degenerate/degenerate perturbation theory based on good understandings of the perturbation under consideration. This time we analyzed the week-field Zeeman effect as well as the hyperfine splitting due to the interaction between the proton magnetic dipole and the electron magnetic dipole.
Historically Zeeman effect gave direct evidence of angular momentum quantization. Today, it is still an important aspect of quantum mechanics because it represents a simple means of using external field to manipulate quantum energy levels.