Answer to Question #112539 in Atomic and Nuclear Physics for Neet kour

Question

Explain the effect of spin orbit interaction on the structure of spectral line. Discuss the fine structure of Hα line.

Answer 1

The spin-orbit interaction in quantum physics is the interaction between a moving particle and its magnetic moment caused by the spin of a particle. Such interaction leads to the splitting of the spectral lines. The spectral lines can be split by an external magnetic field, this is described by the Zeeman effect. The spin-orbit interaction, however, is caused by the magnetic field of the particle.

H-α line is a single red line. According to Bohr theory, the wavelength of H-α red line is 656.11 nm, using the reduced mass (actual "center of gravity" of the atom) the wavelength is 656.47 nm.