Nuclear & Particle Physics - Spin

The hypothesis that an electron possesses spin is qualitatively significant for the explanation of all the following topics EXCEPT the

A. Structure of the periodic table
B. Specific heat of metals
C. Anomalous Zeeman effect
D. Deflection of moving electron by a uniform magnetic field
E. Fine structure of atomic spectra
(GR8677 #27)
Solution:

(A) TRUE
Spin → Pauli exclusion principle → electron configuration → Structure of the periodic table

(B) TRUE
Specific heat for Fermions (½-integer spin) is different from Bosons (integer spin).

(C) TRUE
Zeeman Effect: the splitting of spectral lines when an external magnetic field is applied.
"Normal" Zeeman effect → This type of splitting is observed for spin 0 states since the spin does not contribute to the angular momentum.
"Anomalous" Zeeman effect → When electron spin is included, there is a greater variety of splitting patterns.

(D) FALSE
Deflection of moving electron by a uniform magnetic field does not depend on spin

(E) TRUE
Fine structure = the splitting of the spectral lines of atoms due to quantum mechanical (electron spin) and relativistic corrections.

Answer: D

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