The Zeeman Experiment

INTRODUCTION

The Zeeman effect is the splitting of spectral lines of atoms when they are placed in a magnetic field. It exhibits space quantization and is one of the few fundamental atomic physics experiments which can be performed in a teaching laboratory.

Description of the experimental setup

Experimentental Set-up for Zeeman Experiment 

The set-up consists of the following:

1. High Resolution Fabry Perot Etalon, LSDFP-01
 2. Mercury Discharge Tube, LSMT-01 (Low Pressure Mercury Discharge Tube)
 3. Power Supply for LSMT-01, LSMTPS-01 (H.V. Power Supply for Discharge Tube)
 4. Narrow Band Interference Filter, LSIF-01

Specifications

 5. Polarizer with lens, LSPL-01
 6. Optical Bench: LSOB-01
 7. CCD Camera: LSCCD-01 (High Resolution CCD Camera)
 8. Telescope with Focussing Lens: LSFL-01
 9. Monitor 14”: LSTV-14
 10. Electromagnet, EMU-50T 
 11. Constant Current Power Supply, LSDPS-50 
 12. Digital Gaussmeter, LSDGM-102 

The experimental set-up is complete in all respect

Result

The interference pattern is in the form of circular rings. These are split when the magnetic field is switched on. The amount of splitting depends on the external magnetic field, charge to mass ratio of electron and Lande’s g-factors of the electronic energy levels involved in the transition. These later quantities can be obtained from this experiment.

The result of this unit are within 5% of the standard value.