PH515: Atomic and Molecular Physics

Problem Set - 3
Deadline to submit this tutorial is 25-09-2022

1. (*) Write the antisymmetric wavefunction for Beryllium in ground

state.

2. Obtain the first three spectroscopic term symbol, including ground

state, for nd7 electronic configuration within L-S coupling using Hund’s
rule.

3. (*) Obtain the expression for transition amplitude from initial state |ai
to |bi in acceleration form/gauge within light-matter interaction using
the expression of the transition amplitude in length form.

4. (*) A multiplet 2S+1 L splits by spin-orbit interaction to give rise to three

levels 2S+1 LJ , 2S+1 LJ+1 and 2S+1 LJ+2 in increasing order of energy.
The energy separation between second and first level is 1 . The energy
separation between third and second level is 2 . It is found that 1 /2 =
3/5. What is the value of J. What are the possible values of S and L.

5. Estimate the relative strength of the M1 and E2 transitions with respect

to Electric Dipole (E1) transition for light of wavelength 500 nm.

6. A sodium atom having its outer electron excited to a state with n =

3 and l = 1 is placed in a weak magnetic field. Spectral line A is the
result of transition from |1, 21 , 32 , − 21 i to |0, 21 , 12 , 12 i and line B is the
result of the transition from |1, 21 , 32 , − 23 i to |0, 21 , 12 , − 21 i, wherein the
coupled states are designated as |L, S, J, MJ i. Estimate the ratio of
the intensity of line A to that of line B using Wigner-Eckart theorem
and using Clebsch-Gordan coefficients.

7. (*) An atomic transition line with wavelength 3500 Å is observed to

be split into three components, in a spectrum of light from a sun spot.
Adjacent components can be resolved by 0.017 Å. Estimate the strength
of the magnetic field in the sun spot.

1
 8. The magnetic field of the Sun and stars can be determined by measuring
the Zeeman-effect splitting of spectral lines. Suppose that the sodium
D1 line emitted in a particular region of the solar disk is observed to be
split into the four-component Zeeman effect (see Figure 1). What is the
strength of the solar magnetic field B in that region if the wavelength
difference between the shortest and the longest wavelength is 0.022 nm?
re Chapter 7
(The wavelength of the D1 line is 589.8 nm.)

ergy-level mj
etic field for No field +3/2
d 2S 1>2 energy 2P
3/2
+1/2
showing the –1/2
n effect. These Weak field –3/2
lines in Figure 2P +1/2
1/2
of the levels –1/2
nd J, leading
hree lines seen
ct. [Photo from
uction to Atomic
McGraw-Hill
34. Used by
ublisher.]

+1/2
2
S1/2
–1/2

Figure 1: Energy-leveleUB splitting in a magnetic field for 2 P3/2 , 2 P1/2 , and 2 S1/2
!E = 1m / + 2m s 2 a b = 1m / + 2m s 2"B B
energy levels for sodium,2m e showing the anomalous Zeeman effect.
The splitting is then similar to the normal Zeeman effect and only three lines are
observed. This behavior in large magnetic fields is called the Paschen-Back effect
after its discoverers, F. Paschen and E. Back. Figure 7-31 shows the transition of the
splitting of the levels from the anomalous Zeeman effect to the Paschen-Back effect
as the magnitude of B increases. The basic reason for the change in the appearance of
the anomalous effect as B increases is that the external magnetic field overpowers the

ml ms ml + 2ms
1
3 1 + –– 2
8 m j = –– 2
2
6
1 1
–– 0 + –– 1
4 2 2
2
1 1
2P – ––
aschen-Back 3/2
0 2 –1
+ ––
2
2 ∆E 0
external P1/2 1
––
+1 1
– ––
–2 2 2
so strong 2
µBB
splitting is –4 x = –––– 1
– –– 0
1
– –– –1
∆E 2 2
spin-orbit –6 3
vely – ––
2 1
–1 – –– –2
d S, the level –8
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 x 2.5
2
rm for all
hree spectral
s in the 1
0 + –– 1
effect. Each 2