Starkeffect

The Stark effect is the splitting and shifting of spectral lines of atoms and molecules due to the presence of a static electric field. Discovered by Johannes Stark in 1913, it is a fundamental phenomenon in atomic physics. When an atom or molecule is subjected to an external electric field, the energy levels of its electrons are perturbed. This perturbation leads to changes in the wavelengths of light emitted or absorbed by the substance.

In simpler terms, imagine an atom as a tiny solar system with electrons orbiting a nucleus. The electric field acts like a force that can slightly pull or push these orbiting electrons. This alteration in their orbits changes the energy required for them to jump between different energy levels, which in turn affects the specific colors (wavelengths) of light they emit or absorb.

The magnitude of the splitting and shifting depends on the strength of the electric field and the properties of the atomic or molecular energy levels involved. The Stark effect is a linear effect for hydrogen and hydrogen-like atoms, meaning the shift is directly proportional to the electric field strength. For other atoms, the effect is often quadratic, where the shift is proportional to the square of the electric field strength. This phenomenon has important applications in various fields, including astrophysics for determining the electric fields present in stars, and in spectroscopy for analyzing atomic and molecular structures.