L. Hyperfine structure in paramagnetic salts and nuclear alignment

Abstract

Abstract Abragam and Pryce (1951) have shown that the hyperfine structure in paramagnetic salts can be interpreted using a simple Hamiltonian involving components of the electron and nuclear spins. On the basis of this Hamiltonian, general formulae are given for the allowed transitions in strong magnetic fields, assuming that the paramagnetic ions have axial symmetry and that interactions with the electric quadrupole moment of the nucleus are small compared with those involving the magnetic dipole moment. As far as possible, general formulae are also given for the energy levels in zero magnetic field, and the allowed transitions are indicated. The use of hyperfine structure in paramagnetic salts for the production of nuclear alignment is discussed, with some quantitative data.