Question

What is the term used for explaining the process of splitting of spectral lines in the presence of electric fields ?

Answer 1

Spectral lines are created when electrons move or make a shift within the atom between the shells by either absorbing or emitting the energy in the form of light.To find out and know more about substructure of atoms, effects of magnetic field on spectral lines were studied.

Complete answer:
The process of splitting of spectral lines in the presence of electric fields is known as Zeeman Effect. In this effect the spectral lines split when an electric field is applied on it, splitting is quite complex. They split into three, five and so on. The amount of splitting depends on the strength of the electric field applied .

Due to the applied external electric field the energy of orbit which was quantized before, caused the orbital to split energy into discrete form. The same happens when a magnetic field is applied the spectral lines splits and shifts this is known as Stark effect. This is analogous to the Zeeman Effect.

Note: Zeeman Effect has importance for physicists as it helps them to find the energy levels of an atom in terms of angular momenta. It also helps to study electron paramagnetic resonance. When in place of splitting, absorption lines are formed this is the reverse of Zeeman Effect.