- #1
Kara386
- 208
- 2
Homework Statement
I've been given the worked answer to a very similar question, but there's a step I don't understand so I can't apply it. My question asks:
An energy level with ##J=\frac{11}{2}## has six hyperfine sub-levels with these relative energies:
0, 2.51, 4.71, 6.59, 8.16, 9.41 (GHz)
What is the value of I? Show the spacing obeys the interval rule and determine the value of F for each sub-level.
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
So based on this example question I have, start from the fact that ##F = |I-J|...(I+J)##, integer steps, and label the lowest sub-level as ##F_0 = |I-\frac{11}{2}|##. That means I have energy levels from ##F_0## to ##F_0 +5##. Then I can make a table:
##
\begin{array}{|c|c|}
\hline
F & \Delta E_F -\Delta E_{F-1}\\ \hline
F_0 +5 & 1.25 \\ \hline
F_0 + 4 & 1.57 \\ \hline
F_0 + 3 & 1.88 \\ \hline
F_0 + 2 & 2.2 \\ \hline
F_0 + 1 & 2.51 \\ \hline
\end{array}##
Found by referring back to the listed energy levels, so ##F_0 + 5 = 9.41 - 8.16## and so on. Then take ratios of energy splittings, and here's what I don't understand. From
##\frac{F_0+5}{F_0 + 4} = \frac{1.25}{1.57}##, a value for ##F_0 +5## is deduced.
In the example it states
##\frac{F_0 +2}{F_0 +1} = \frac{202}{151}## therefore ##F_0+1 = 3##. How did they work that out? They have ##F_0 = |I - \frac{3}{2}|## and the energy level ##F_0## is at ##151##MeV. Don't understand that step. Thanks for any help!