Zeeman Effect Calculator

The normal Zeeman effect shows exactly three lines and arises in states where spin effects cancel (singlet states). The anomalous Zeeman effect shows more lines due to electron spin, requiring the full g-factor treatment.

Solar spectropolarimetry measures the circular and linear polarization of Zeeman-split spectral lines. The splitting directly gives the field strength while polarization gives the field direction.

The Larmor frequency nu_L = eB/(4*pi*m_e) = mu_B*B/h is the classical precession frequency of a magnetic moment in field B. Normal Zeeman components are separated by exactly the Larmor frequency.

At very high magnetic fields where the Zeeman splitting exceeds the spin-orbit coupling energy, the spectrum reverts to a simpler pattern called the Paschen-Back effect, where L and S decouple from J.

Not easily for optical lines. However, microwave and radio Zeeman effects (21 cm hydrogen line splitting) can be observed with radio telescopes and are used to map interstellar magnetic fields.

A device used in laser cooling experiments where a spatially varying magnetic field creates position-dependent Zeeman shifts that compensate for the Doppler shift as an atom slows down, keeping it in resonance with the cooling laser.

MRI uses the nuclear Zeeman effect: proton spin states split in a strong magnetic field and radio frequency pulses drive transitions between them. The resonance frequency (Larmor frequency of protons) directly gives the local field strength.

For an electron in state with orbital quantum number l, m_l takes integer values from -l to +l (total 2l+1 values). A p electron (l=1) has m_l = -1, 0, +1 giving three Zeeman sublevels.

Yes. Zeeman lasers use a magnetic field applied to the gain medium to produce two circularly polarized modes at slightly different frequencies, useful for precision measurement of magnetic fields and rotation sensors.