Course Information

• Syllabus
• Overview of Experiments (PDF)

Experiments

• Scope Exercise

First Four

• Hydrogen-deuterium mass difference
• X-ray fluorescence
• The Franck-Hertz experiment
• The Zeeman effect in mercury

Path 1

• Rubidium optical pumping
• Pulsed NMR

Path 2

• The Hanle effect
• The Lamb shift in hydrogen

Physics 432 Home

The Zeeman effect in mercury

Students measure the magnetic splitting of the yellow (normal) and green (anomalous) lines of mercury, and learn about the physics accounting for the two quite different spectra. A high resolution Fabry-Perot interferometer is used to measure the spectral splitting as a function of applied magnetic field. Students also learn the physics of the Fabry-Perot interferometer, thereby gaining an understanding of how this device can provide such high resolving power.

Experiment Information

• Write-up
• Magnet calibration curve (I vs. B for Zeeman magnet)
• Information on Fabry-Perot interferometry (from Preston & Dietz)