Zeeman Physics.
(ˈzeɪmən)
The name of P. Zeeman (1865–1943), Dutch physicist, used attrib. with reference to the splitting of a spectral line into three or more closely spaced components when the light source is in a magnetic field not strong enough to produce the Paschen-Back effect.
Observed by Zeeman in 1897.
| [1897 Phil. Mag. XLIV. 503 A theoretical analysis..can be developed in connexion with Zeeman's phenomenon, which may help to throw light on the nature of the electric vibrations in the molecule.] 1899 Rep. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci. 1898 789 An effect converse to the Zeeman effect occurs in those cases where the body is absorbing instead of emitting light. 1904 [see magnetogyric a. 1]. 1926 [see Larmor]. 1962 W. B. Thompson Introd. Plasma Physics i. 3 There are several ways of inferring the existence of magnetic fields, of which the most direct is from a measurement of the Zeeman splitting of spectral lines. 1971 New Scientist 18 Feb. 381/1 When a nucleus is placed in a high magnetic field, each energy level splits into several sublevels known as magnetic sublevels or Zeeman levels. 1978 Pasachoff & Kutner University Astron. viii. 219 (caption) From studies of the splitting of lines that are sensitive to the Zeeman effect, the magnetic field on the sun can be mapped. |