Hyperfine Structure: Key Formulas and Selection Rules
This document summarizes the essential formulas and selection rules for the hyperfine structure
of spectral lines, relevant for CSIR-NET and GATE Physics examinations.
Nuclear Spin and Angular Momentum
• Nuclear Angular Momentum: The nucleus possesses an intrinsic spin angular momen-
tum I with magnitude:
√ h
|I| = I(I + 1)
2π
where I is the nuclear spin quantum number, taking values such as 0, 12 , 1, 32 , . . . for vari-
ous isotopes.
• Nuclear Magnetic Moment: The nuclear magnetic moment µI is:
( )
e
µI = gI I
2m p
with magnitude: √
µI = gI I(I + 1)µN
where µN = 4πehm p is the nuclear magneton, gI is the nuclear g-factor, e is the proton
charge, and m p is the proton mass.
• Z-Component: The z-component of the nuclear spin is:
h
Iz = MI , MI = I, I − 1, . . . , −I
2π
and the z-component of the magnetic moment is:
µIz = gI MI µN
Total Angular Momentum
• Total Angular Momentum: The total angular momentum of the atom is:
F = J+I
where J = L+S is the electronic angular momentum, L is the orbital angular momentum,
and S is the electron spin. The magnitude of F is:
√ h
|F| = F(F + 1)
2π
with F = J + I, J + I − 1, . . . , |J − I|.
1
Hyperfine Structure Splitting
• Energy Splitting: The energy difference between successive hyperfine levels F and
F + 1 follows Landé’s interval rule:
∆E = A(F + 1)
where A is the hyperfine structure constant.
• Selection Rule: Allowed transitions between hyperfine levels satisfy:
∆F = 0, ±1
Intensity Ratios
• Intensity Ratio: For transitions involving hyperfine levels of a term (e.g., 2 S1/2 with
J = 12 ), the intensity ratio of transitions to levels with F = I + 12 and F = I − 12 is:
2(I + 12 ) + 1 I +1
=
2(I − 1
2) + 1
I
• Example: For sodium (I = 32 ), the intensity ratio is:
3
I +1 2 +1 5
= 3
=
I 2
3
Zeeman Effect in Hyperfine Structure
• Magnetic Quantum Number: In a weak magnetic field B, the projection of F along the
field is:
h
Fz = MF , MF = F, F − 1, . . . , −F
2π
yielding 2F + 1 Zeeman levels.
• Magnetic Moment: The total magnetic moment of the atom is:
√ eh
µF = gF F(F + 1)
4π m
where the g-factor is:
F(F + 1) + J(J + 1) − I(I + 1)
gF = gJ
2F(F + 1)
and gJ is the electronic g-factor.
• Energy Shift: The energy shift in wave numbers is:
−∆T = gF MF L′
where L′ = eB
4π mc is the Lorentz unit.
• Selection Rules:
∆MF = 0 (π components), ∆MF = ±1 (σ components)
Note: MF = 0 ↔ MF = 0 is forbidden for ∆F = 0.
2
Notes
• Hyperfine structure arises from nuclear spin and isotopic effects, with splittings ∼ 10−3
times smaller than fine-structure splittings.
• The number of hyperfine levels for a state with quantum number J is 2J + 1 if J < I, or
2I + 1 if I ≤ J.
• Nuclear spin I can be determined from intensity ratios or the number of hyperfine levels.