Zeeman Effect

Zeeman Effect

The Zeeman effect is the splitting of the spectral lines of an atom in the presence of a strong magnetic field.
Suppose that a source emits a spectral line of frequency ω in the absence of magnetic field. when the magnetic field is switched on and the light emitted by the source is viewed transverse to the field, three equally spaced spectral lines of frequencies ω - ∆ω , ω and ω + ∆ω are observed. The change in frequency of the emitted light is called Zeeman Shift.

All the three lines are plane polarized and are usually named as σ components. The plane of vibration of the central line is parallel to the magnetic field and that of the remaining lines is perpendicular to the magnetic field.

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