- #1
throneoo
- 126
- 2
Background: I have limited knowledge on QM and only know that magnetic fields split the energy levels of an atom
It seems counter-intuitive to me that as the atoms slow down along the tube the magnetic field strength decreases
http://es1.ph.man.ac.uk/AJM2/Atomtrapping/Zeeman-B-field.jpg
as far as I understand, the point is to increase the field so the less blue-shifted photons can fit into the energy gap between the excited and ground state , which is decreased by amplifying the effects of the splitting
Apparently it isn't the case, as shown by the figure. So where am I wrong?
It seems counter-intuitive to me that as the atoms slow down along the tube the magnetic field strength decreases
http://es1.ph.man.ac.uk/AJM2/Atomtrapping/Zeeman-B-field.jpg
as far as I understand, the point is to increase the field so the less blue-shifted photons can fit into the energy gap between the excited and ground state , which is decreased by amplifying the effects of the splitting
Apparently it isn't the case, as shown by the figure. So where am I wrong?