Zeeman Eect Laboratory Manual

McGill University 2007

Contents
1 Introduction 2 Experiment 2.1 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appendix A The Lummer-Gehrcke Plate Interferometer Appendix B Additional notes on Zeeman eect B.1 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B.2 Zeeman Patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appendix C Refractive Indices 1 1 2 3 4 8 9 10 11

Introduction
The object of this experiment is to investigate the interaction of atomic angular momentum states, i.e.

atomic magnetic moments, with a magnetic eld (The Zeeman Interaction). This magnetic interaction is one of the weakest studied by physicists. The sophisticated optical equipment available enables the precise measurement of energy changes as small as 105 eV. This degree of sensitivity is obtained using an optical interferometer. Normal spectrometer resolving power (/ where , can be resolved at ) is greatly enhanced by employing the principle of division of amplitude by multiple reections in the interferometer. The multiple beams produced are mutually out of phase by the same amount and interfere in the image plane of the spectrometer to produce a simple interference pattern which obeys the usual criterion for constructive interference, that nx = d() where d is the path dierence between any two successive beams. This pattern is very sensitive to changes in wavelength so that small wavelength (energy) changes may be determined from measurements made on the interference pattern, which may itself be recorded using a CCD camera. Recommended: Tolansky, High Resolution Spectroscopy

Experiment
In this experiment, you will use a Lummer-Gehrcke interferometer in combination with a constant deviation

prism. The setup is shown in gure 1.

12 7 6 5 4 3

11

11111 000008 11111 00000

1

1111 0000 1111 0000 1111 0000

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Figure 1: Experimental setup for the Zeeman experiment. The spectral tube (1) is placed in the center of the electromagnet (2). The light goes through a lens (3) that focuses the beam on the slit at the entrance of the collimator (4). Optionally it is passes in a polarizing lter (5). It then enters the L-G plate (6), then it is deviated by the constant deviation prism (7), which can be rotated with the milled ring (8). Then it is either observed through the telescope or sent to the camera (9), whose telemetric photo objective (zoom) is set to maximum and focused to innity. The computer (10) analyzes the resulting pictures. The magnetic elds intensity is adjusted by its power generator (11), the voltage sent being monitored by a voltmeter (12).

The neon discharge tube is placed at the center of a region of constant high magnetic eld. This eld is generated by an electromagnet powered by a large power supply from which we monitor the voltage with the help of a voltmeter. Light emitted in these conditions from the tube enters the spectrometer. It passes through a slit into the collimator (a series of lenses). The light is then constrained to go through a polarization lter (optional) and a Lummer-Gehrcke plate interferometer (described in greater detail in appendix A). It then goes through a constant deviation prism which separates the dierent wavelengths horizontally.

2.1

Procedure

Focus the spectrometer telescope at innity (parallel light rays and observe the neon spectrum through the spectrometer locating the line corresponding to = 626.6 nm (dark orange) or another line showing the normal Zeeman eect (see Appendix B). Move the spectrometer across the eld of illumination to obtain maximum intensity. Align source, collimator axis and focusing lens carefully. Place the Lummer-Gehrcke (LG) interferometer on the spectrometer table. LG requires no adjustment prior to use. Observe the interference pattern. Decrease the slit width until only a broken line or series of dots is seen. 2

 Observe that each position of constructive interference (dot) is split into 3 by the application of a magnetic eld (Normal Zeeman Eect). Include the polarizing plate so that only polarized light enters the spectrometer and observe that the three dots correspond to light linearly polarized in orthogonal directions. Replace the telescope with the CCD camera, which you must focus at innity. Acquire a trial image with the camera to determine a suitable exposure time. Acquire images at dierent elds and analyze results according to Tolansky, High Resolution Spectroscopy.

2.2

Discussion

The Zeeman Eect and the dierence between the Normal and Anomalous Zeeman eect. The angular momentum of the initial and nal atomic states necessary to give a Normal Zeeman pattern and deduce possible transitions. Deduce the dependence of the energy of a magnetic moment upon the applied magnetic eld and hence the value of the Bohr magneton.

Appendices
A The Lummer-Gehrcke Plate Interferometer
To use the Lummer-Gehrcke Plate to observe the Zeeman Eect in the Neon Spectrum, and to Object:

determine e/m for the electrons. References: Woods Physical Optics, p.317 Worsnop and Flint, p.345 F. Simeon, Jour. Scientic Instruments, Vol. 1, p.296, 1924 W. E. Williams, Applications of Interferometry, p.94 Apparatus: Lummer-Gehrcke Plate; auxiliary spectrograph; xed magnet and means to measure the

magnetic eld between its poles; neon discharge tube. Theory: The Lummer-Gehrcke Plate is a glass plate, whose surfaces are accurately plane and parallel to each other. Monochromatic parallel light is introduced into the plate at almost grazing incidence, and undergoes successive internal reections at the surfaces of the plate. At each reection, some of the light emerges from the plate. Under appropriate conditions, the light at each reection is in phase with the light which emerged at the previous reection. All these emergent rays of parallel light reinforce, and may be brought to a focus by a lens. (The light is usually introduced by means of a prism cemented to the plate, to avoid loss of intensity by reection at the surface of the plate).

D C B t

90

Figure 2: Lummer-Gehrcke plate interferometer

Let t be the thickness of the plate and its refractive index, then, the retardation between the two consecutive rays will be: d = (AB + BC) AD = 2t(sec ) 2t(tan sin ).

From Snell-Descartes law, we know that sin = sin , which implies: d = = = 2t (sec tan sin ) 2t sec 1 sin2 2t cos . (1)

The condition for constructive interference is d = n. Expressing the last relation in terms of : n2 2 n = = 4t2 2 1 sin2 2t 2 sin2 . (2)

This implies that the order of the spectrum (n) may be found if the wavelength and the index of refraction are given, with sin 1. If the light is not only indicent at the same angle , there will also be reinforcement in other directions, corresponding to orders diering from n. In practice, the Lummer-Gehrcke plate may be placed between the collimator and the prism of a spectroscope. Each line of a spectrum is nearly monochromatic and is observed as a series of dots instead of a continuous line. Each of the observed dots correspond to a dierent order of the spectrum. Separation of the orders Let be the variation in the angle of emergence for a change of one in the order, from the nth to the (n + 1)th . Dierentiating the square of (eq. 2), one obtains: 2n2 dn = 8t2 sin cos d, n2 dn = 2t2 sin 2 d, in terms of variations: =

2t2

n2 n. sin 2

(3)

We are interested in n = 1 and we want to eliminate n: = 2 sin2 t sin 2 (4)

Separation of the plates Now we allow , and to vary and dierentiate the square of (eq. 2): 2n2 d n2 which implies: = 4t2 n2 , 2t2 sin 2 4t2 n2 . 2t2 sin 2 (6) = = 4t2 (2 d sin(2) d) , 2t2 2 sin(2) ,

(5)

We can equate this last relation with (eq.3) to eliminate , setting n = 1: 4t2 Therefore, m = n2 . n2 4t2 (8) n2 = n2 . (7)

This is the dierence in wavelength between two lines such that in any order, one may fall on the next higher order of the other line, i.e. n = 1. Resolving Power One may dene the resolving power R as /. The instrument used here has a very high power. Lets see how we can calculate this value. We know that CD = AC cos . Also, the apperture of the whole plate is the dierence between the rst and the last emerging rays and is given by L cos . The angular separation between two lines just clearly resolved is: = . L cos Introducing this relation into (eq. 6), one can determine the resolving power: R= L = sin 2 sin2 . (9)

Use of the Lummer-Gehrcke Plate

The main use of the LG plate is to resolve spectral lines which are

very close together, or to determine the wavelength of a satellite line from the wavelength of a known line. Since m can be determined for any plate, for a given wavelength , then if m is the measured distance between two observed orders of a known line (see gure 3), and s is the distance of a satellite (at s ) from the main line, we may write: s m s 2 = = s , m s m . m 2

(10)

1111 0000 1111 0000 1111 0000 1111 0000 1111 0000 1111 0000 1111 0000

1111 0000 1111 0000 1111 0000 1111 0000 1111 0000 1111 0000 1111 0000

n+1

Figure 3: Main and satellite lines with appropriate distances

To evalutate

s m m 2 ,

you may determine the order of the spectrum from (eq. 2). t, and

are

characteristics of the plate supplied by the manufacturer. You may want to draw a dispersion curve. You should consult appendix C for details about the refractive indices. The intersting values are listed in column BK7 of each table; they are valid for a plate thickness t = 0.4853 cm. Zeeman Eect It may be shown that the wavelength of light is changed by when the emission source is placed in a magnetic eld in the domain of the Normal Zeeman eect we have: 4c s e , = m H 2
e m

(11)

where, e is the charge of the electron, m is its mass, c is the speed of light in vacuum and H is the strenght of the eld. Measurements of and H allow an experimental value of relation. to be calculated using the latter

Additional notes on Zeeman eect

References: H. E. White, Introduction to Atomic Spectra, p. 149 Back and Land, Zeemaneekt e If a source of light is placed between the poles of a magnet and its spectrum is observed with a high resolution instrument, as the eld strength is increased, the spectral lines are seen to widen, and nally to split up into a symmetrical pattern. The rst lines for which the eect was carefully studied by Zeeman in 1896 were found to split into triplets and this behaviour was regarded as Normal. One component remained in the undisturbed position., with a companion on each side, whose change in frequency was given by the relation was given by the relation: = eH 4m (12)

where, e is the electronic charge, H is the magnetic eld, and m is the electronic mass. Actually, many lines exhibit an Anomalous Zeeman Eect instead of this normal separation; the pattern may consist of several components whose displacements maybe expressed as simple fractious of the normal serration Runges Law. Also, it has been found that all of the lines of any spectrum series (lines produced by the emission of energy as an electron returns from any possible disturbed level to one particular level) have similar Zeeman patterns Prestons Law. This similarity of behaviour is a powerful tool for the classication of spectra. If the magnetic eld is continuously increased, at rst the separations increase proportionally, then the patterns of lines which behave anomalously change, nally taking the form of the normal triplet - the Paschen-Back Eect. The eld magnitude required depends on the nature of the lines. It is now possible from Quantum theory considerations to predict satisfactorily the Zeeman patterns for various spectra. If the Zeeman pattern is observed in a direction at right angles to the magnetic eld, some of the component lines are found to be plane polarized in the direction of the eld, the others are plane polarized perpendicular to the eld. If the pattern is observed along the eld, some components are ford to be circularly polarized, some are missing altogether. The pattern is commonly observed across the eld, and the components are reported as p or (parallel) and s or . perpendicular (German senkrecht), according to the polarization, either parallel or perpendicular, respectively, to the eld. Consider, for example, a line whose Zeeman pattern is reported as on gure 4.

p s

(0) (1) (2) 6 7 8 9 10 6

Figure 4: Example of a Zeeman pattern

This means that the pattern is symmetrical, the Runge denominator is 6, the parallel (p or n) components are displaced from the undisturbed frequency by 0/6, 1/6, 2/6 of the normal frequency separation, while the perpendicular (s or ) components are displaced 6/6, 7/6, etc. The pattern may be indicated diagrammatically as above, where the dots represent the normal separations and the lengths of the lines represent the intensity of the p and s components. In the present experiment, the Zeeman Eect will be studied for some lines in the Neon spectrum. The separation of a Nominal triplet will be measured, and used to determine a value of e/m for the electron. Also, some of the more complicated patterns will be compared with the accepted observations of Land. e

B.1

Procedure
as wide as possible without causing the lines to overlap.

With a neon discharge tube as Source, line up the spectrograph for visual observation. Open the slit

Place the Lummer-Gehrcke plate in position between the collimator and the prism, and adjust it to give a clear pattern. Mount the magnet in front of the spectroscope, with the poles at the height of the slit. Move the magnet up to the discharge tube, so that the discharge observed comes from the strong magnetic eld between the poles. Observe the Zeeman patterns produced. Move the magnet to give a weaker eld, and note how the patterns close in. Observe the spectrum through a Nicol prism (or Polaroid) and note the eect of rotating the Nicol. Replace the observing telescope by the CCD camera, and using the Liner Plate to obtain images of: 1. The Neon spectrum with no magnetic eld. 2. The Neon spectrum with maximum magnetic eld. 3. The Neon spectrum with maximum magnetic eld through the Nicol set to transmit horizontally, then vertically. 4. The Neon spectrum with low magnetic eld. Measure the eld of the magnet with a ballistic galvanometer, or use given value. Identify the Neon lines from the images obtained from the CCD camera. Measure the Zeeman separation for the line = 6266 which exhibits the Normal Zeeman Eect, and A calculate a value of e/m for the electron (see page 7). You could alternatively use another spectral line showing the Normal Zeeman Eect. 9

 Measure up any other lines that you have time for, and see if your analysis of the components agrees with that given by Land. e

B.2

Zeeman Patterns
7032 6717 6678 6599 6532 6507 6382 6334 6304 6266 (A)
(0) (1) 2 3 4 2 (1) 30 31 30 (0) (8) 31 39 47 30 (69) 31 39 40 30 (0) 2 3 (0) (5) 12 17 22 15 10 (12) 22 15 (0) (1) 2 3 4 2 (0) (7) 30 37 44 30 (0) 1 1

6217 6164 6143 6096 6074 6029 5976 5945 5882 5852

(A)
(0) 4 (5) 9 14 6 (0) 4 3 8 (16) 29 37 45 53 30 (0) (5) 34 39 44 30 (0) 22 15 (2) 20 22 15 (0) (1) 2 3 4 2 (2) (4) 11 13 15 17 10 (0) (1) 8 9 10 6 (0) 31 30

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Refractive Indices

Reference: Optics Guide 3, Melles Griot, pp. 58-60.

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