Explain the origin of spinorbit coupling and describe how it

Explain the origin of spin-orbit coupling and describe how it affects the atomic absorption and emission spectrum.

Solution

The energy levels of atomic electrons are affected by the interaction between the electron spin magnetic moment and the orbital angular momentum of the electron. It can be visualized as a magnetic field caused by the electron\'s orbital motion interacting with the spin magnetic moment. This effective magnetic field can be expressed in terms of the electron orbital angular momentum. The interaction energy is that of a magnetic dipole in a magnetic field and takes the form.

When atomic spectral lines are split by the application of an external magnetic field, it is called the Zeeman effect. The spin-orbit interaction is also a magnetic interaction, but with the magnetic field generated by the orbital motion of an electron within the atom itself. It has been described as an \"internal Zeeman effect\".