What is Zeeman effect?

The Zeeman effect is the splitting of a spectral line into several components in the presence of a static magnetic field. Discovered by Pieter Zeeman in 1896, this effect occurs because the magnetic field interacts with the magnetic moment of electrons in an atom, causing energy level shifts. There are two types of Zeeman effect:

1. Normal Zeeman Effect: Observed when there is no electron spin contribution, typically in cases where the total spin is zero. It results in a triplet of equally spaced lines.

2. Anomalous Zeeman Effect: Observed when electron spin is involved, leading to more complex splitting patterns, often seen in atoms with unpaired electrons.

The Zeeman effect is crucial in understanding atomic and molecular structures, studying magnetic fields in astronomical objects, and has applications in various spectroscopic techniques.