The normal and anomalous Zeeman effect

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the differences between the normal and anomalous Zeeman effects, exploring the underlying quantum mechanical principles, particularly the roles of angular momentum and magnetic moment in optical transitions. The scope includes theoretical explanations and conceptual clarifications related to quantum numbers and their conservation laws.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about the distinction between the normal and anomalous Zeeman effects, questioning the role of quantum numbers J, L, and S in each case.
  • Another participant clarifies that the difference lies in the interdependence of L and S in the normal Zeeman effect, where J is conserved as J = L + S.
  • A subsequent participant inquires whether J is still conserved in the anomalous Zeeman effect, indicating uncertainty about the conservation laws in this context.
  • Further clarification is provided that while J is conserved in the anomalous Zeeman effect, the individual values of L and S are not conserved and can change over time, although their sum remains constant.
  • The discussion includes details about the g factors associated with spin and orbital angular momentum, noting that in the anomalous Zeeman effect, these factors can vary due to the precession of L and S.
  • It is mentioned that in the ordinary Zeeman effect, the values of L and S are conserved, leading to specific g factors of 1 and 2.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the conservation of quantum numbers in the normal and anomalous Zeeman effects, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of these conservation laws.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential misunderstandings of the conservation principles and the specific conditions under which the normal and anomalous Zeeman effects apply. The discussion does not resolve the complexities surrounding the definitions and implications of angular momentum in these contexts.

Hymne
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Hi! I have difficulties seeing the cause that make these to concepts diffret. Haken and Wolf writes about the last one:"One speaks of the anomalous Zeeman effect when the angular momentum and magnetic moment of the two terms between which an optical transistion occurs cannot be described by just one of the two quantum numbers s or l., but are determined by both."However in the nomal Zeeman we used the J as a quantum number and therefore used both?! I am not getting this right..
 
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Hymne said:
However in the nomal Zeeman we used the J as a quantum number and therefore used both?! I am not getting this right..

It's not whether you use J, L and S, but their interdependence. With the ordinary Zeeman effect, you have LS-coupling, so J is conserved and J = L + S. So L and S (the total angular momentum and spin) don't change independently of each other.
 
Yeah, but what is the case in the anomalous Zeeman effect then? J is still conserved right?
 
In the case of the anomalous Zeeman effect, J=L+S is conserved.
(For example, in the case of L=1, and S=1/2, J=1+1/2=3/2 ...)

But each value of L and S is not conserved.
(Each value S and L is changing with time. (For example, S=1/2-0.1, L=1+0.1...)
But the sum of L and S must be conserved. (For example, J=S+L= (1/2-0.1) + (1+0.1) =3/2)...)

The spin g factor is 2, and orbital g factor is 1.
So in the anomalous Zeeman effect, these g factors of 1 and 2 are mixed, and can be different from 1 and 2, because each direction(value) of L and S is changing by the precession.

In the ordinary Zeeman effect or Paschen Back effect, the directions(values) of L and S are conserved (L=1, S=1/2)
So the g factor is 1 or 2, and the magnetic moments are the same as the Normal Zeeman effect. (1 x 1 = 2 x 1/2 = 1)
 

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