Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hydrogen and helium spectra in large magnetic fields

  • Published:
Astrophysics and Space Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The energy levels and wave functions of hydrogen and helium atoms in the presence of large (∼107G) magnetic fields are found by assuming that the eigenvalues and eigenvectors may be approximated by those of a truncated Hamiltonian matrix. In these atoms, fields of this size produce, in addition to the usual Paschen-Back effect, a quadratic Zeeman effect. This contributes an upward shift to the energy of all levels, which at sufficiently high fields dominates the Paschen-Back splitting.

The behavior of a number of eigenvalues and wave functions as a function of magnetic field is presented. The effects of the field on the wavelengths and strengths of the components of Hβ and the helium lines λλ 4471, 4026 and 4120 as well as the forbidden λ 4025 are examined. In hydrogen the lines are split into components attributed to the now nondegenerate transitionsnlm l→n′l′m′l. In helium forbidden lines are excited, which may develop strengths larger than those of the allowed lines.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bazley, N. W.: 1960,Phys. Rev. 120, 144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bazley, N. W. and Fox, D. W.: 1961,Phys. Rev. 124, 483.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edmonds, A. R.: 1960,Angular Momentum in Quantum Mechanics, Princeton University Press, Princeton, pp. 48, 49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edmonds, A. R.: 1973,J. Phys. B. 6, 1603.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garstang, R. H. and Kemic, S. B.: 1972, in B. G. Wybourne (ed.),The Structure of Matter, Univ. Canterbury Press, New Zealand, pp. 396–404.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemp, J. C., Swedlund, J. P., Landstreet, J. D., and Angel, J. R. P.: 1970,Astrophys. J. Letters 161, L77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Praddaude, H. C.: 1972,Phys. Rev. A 6, 1321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preston, G. W.: 1970,Astrophys. J. Letters 160, 143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Racah, G.: 1942,Phys. Rev. 62, 438.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rotenberg, M., Bivins, R., Metropolis, N., and Wooten, J. K.: 1959,The 3-j and 6-j Symbols, Technology Press, Cambridge, p. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schiff, L. I. and Snyder, H.: 1939,Phys. Rev. 55, 59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, E. R., Henry, J. W., Surmelian, G. L., O'Connell, R. F., and Rajagopal, A. K.: 1972,Phys. Rev. D. 6, 3700.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, University of Colorado and National Bureau of Standards, Boulder, Colo., USA

    R. H. Garstang & S. B. Kemic

  2. Dept. of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo., USA

    R. H. Garstang & S. B. Kemic

Authors
  1. R. H. Garstang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. B. Kemic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Garstang, R.H., Kemic, S.B. Hydrogen and helium spectra in large magnetic fields. Astrophys Space Sci 31, 103–115 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00642604

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00642604

Keywords

Search

Navigation