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 Hg¹⁹⁹ to that of Hg²⁰¹ was calculated for the terms 6p ¹P₁, 6p ³P₂ and 7s ³S₁, and it was found that the ratio is anomalous for the term 6p ¹P₁. The quadrupole moment of Hg²⁰¹ was calculated to be 0.3₅·10⁻²⁴ cm².
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 Hg²⁰⁴–Hg²⁰² : Hg²⁰²–Hg²⁰⁰ : Hg²⁰⁰–Hg¹⁹⁸ 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.