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eprparadox
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Homework Statement
An energy level of a certain isolated atom is split into three components by the
hyperfine interaction coupling of the electronic and nuclear angular momenta. The
quantum number j , specifying the magnitude of the total electronic angular
momentum for the level, has the value j = 3/2 . What is the quantum number i, specifying
the magnitude of the nuclear angular momentum?
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm confused as to how to incorporate the electronic angular momentum. I'm not sure that I need it. The question mentions that the atom is split into 3 components because of the hyperfine interaction. So to me, that says that whatever energy state the electron was in will be split into 3 more energy states and if this is so then it seems like the nuclear angular momentum should be i = 1 so that each component of i will be -1, 0, 1.
Am I thinking about this correctly?
thanks a lot