The First Spectrum of Manganese, Mn I

Area of Science:

• Atomic physics
• Spectroscopy
• Quantum mechanics

Background:

• Early spectral term discoveries in manganese (Mn I) laid groundwork.
• Catalán's "multiplet" concept aided complex spectra analysis.
• Analysis of Mn I spectrum was limited by insufficient experimental data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To exploit new spectral observations for Mn I analysis.
• To derive additional atomic energy levels.
• To explain a greater number of observed Mn I lines.

Main Methods:

• Utilized new observations of approximately 2500 wavelengths and intensities.
• Incorporated 440 Zeeman patterns from 1948-49 data.
• Derived atomic energy levels and allocated them to electron configurations.

Main Results:

• Designated 42 even terms (125 levels, 60 g-values) and 94 odd terms (266 levels, 164 g-values).
• Identified 13 miscellaneous levels.
• Accounted for over 2030 spectral lines (1785 Å–17608 Å) through even-odd term transitions across four multiplicities (doublets, quartets, sextets, octets).

Conclusions:

• New data significantly advanced the analysis of the Mn I spectrum.
• The study provides a more complete understanding of Mn I atomic energy levels and spectral line origins.
• This work contributes to the quantum interpretation of complex spectra.