Revision of the Hyperfine Structure of the Mercury Spectrum

Abstract

The hyperfine structure of λ 5790, λ 5789.7, λ 5769 and λ 4047 of the spectrum of Hg I was studied, and the structure of some terms was determined. The ratio of the hyperfine structure constant of Hg 199 to that of Hg 201 was calculated for the terms 6 p 1 P 1 , 6 p 3 P 2 and 7 s 3 S 1 , and it was found that the ratio is anomalous for the term 6 p 1 P 1 . The quadrupole moment of Hg 201 was calculated to be 0.3 5 ·10 -24 cm 2 . Regularity in the displacement of even isotopes in lines of the mercury spectrum was found to exist in such a way that the ratio of the spacings Hg 204 –Hg 202 : Hg 202 –Hg 200 : Hg 200 –Hg 198 is constant for all lines examined and is equal to 1 : 0.933 : 0.880. The same qualitative regularity was found in the isotopic displacement in lines of heavy elements consisting of at least three even isotopes.