In atomic physics, the fine structure describes the splitting of the spectral lines of atoms due to electron spin and relativistic corrections to the non-relativistic Schrödinger equation. It was first measured precisely for the hydrogen atom by Albert A. Michelson and Edward W. Morley in 1887, [ 1 ] [ 2 ] laying the basis for the theoretical ...

In physics, the fine-structure constant, also known as the Sommerfeld constant, commonly denoted by α (the Greek letter alpha), is a fundamental physical constant that quantifies the strength of the electromagnetic interaction between elementary charged particles.

Jan 9, 2024 · The fine structure constant, symbolized as α (alpha), is a fundamental physical constant that indicates the strength of the interaction between charged particles. It plays a crucial role in the realms of quantum mechanics and electromagnetism.

Fine structure, in spectroscopy, the splitting of the main spectral lines of an atom into two or more components, each representing a slightly different wavelength. Fine structure is produced when an atom emits light in making the transition from one energy state to another.

Fine structure refers to the small splittings in the energy levels of atoms that result from electron spin and relativistic effects. These splittings cause subtle differences in the spectral lines of atoms, leading to the observation of closely spaced lines in atomic spectra.

the fine structure constant and the rest energy of the electron. The fine structure constant is given by α ≡ e2 ~c ≃ 1 137, (2.1.4) and the rest energy of the electron is mc2. Then, e2 a 0 = me4 ~2 = mα2~2c2 ~2 = α2 mc2. (2.1.5) This states that the energy scale of hydrogen bound states is a factor of α2 smaller than

May 25, 2019 · The fine structure constant, α, can be thought of as the ratio between the energy needed to overcome the electrostatic repulsion driving these electrons apart and the energy of a single photon...

Hydrogen Fine Structure When the familiar red spectral line of the hydrogen spectrum is examined at very high resolution, it is found to be a closely-spaced doublet. This splitting is called fine structure and was one of the first experimental evidences for electron spin.

Summary: The fine-structure constant, denoted by α, is a dimensionless physical constant that plays a crucial role in determining the strength of electromagnetic interactions between elementary charged particles. Its significance spans multiple areas in physics, from quantum electrodynamics (QED) to atomic structure and beyond.

The fine-structure constant α is of dimension 1 (i.e., it is simply a number) and very nearly equal to 1/137. It is the "coupling constant" or measure of the strength of the electromagnetic force that governs how electrically charged elementary particles (e.g., …