Quadratic Zeeman effect in hydrogen at 2-3 MG magnetic fields

Area of Science:

• Plasma physics
• Astrophysics
• Atomic spectroscopy

Background:

• The Zeeman effect is crucial for measuring magnetic fields in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas.
• Magnetic fields in white dwarf stars range from 40 kG to 1 GG.
• The quadratic Zeeman effect becomes significant for magnetic fields exceeding 2 MG, causing line splitting and shifting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the quadratic Zeeman effect in hydrogen Balmer lines.
• To measure strong magnetic fields in laboratory plasmas using spectral line analysis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 1 MA pulse power generator to create strong magnetic fields.
• Generated magnetic fields using rod loads (0.8-1 mm diameter).
• Employed a droplet of CH oil as a hydrogen source, backlit by blackbody emission (0.5-0.6 eV).
• Analyzed Zeeman splitting of H-alpha and H-beta absorption lines with a grating spectrometer.

Main Results:

• Observed Zeeman splitting of hydrogen H-alpha and H-beta absorption lines.
• Detected a spectral shift in the central component of the triplet, indicative of the quadratic Zeeman effect.
• Successfully demonstrated the quadratic Zeeman effect in a laboratory plasma environment.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms the applicability of the Zeeman effect for magnetic field measurements in laboratory plasmas.
• The quadratic Zeeman effect was experimentally verified in hydrogen lines under strong magnetic fields.
• This research provides insights into spectral line behavior in extreme magnetic field conditions relevant to astrophysics.