On the Inversion of Alkali Doublets

Abstract

The inversion of doublets of ueutral alkali atoms is explained by the cause that the screening constant due to the spin-orbit interaction between the valence electron and the atomic core is greater than the atomic number. The general formula of alkali doublets is derived, taking into account the electromagnetic interactions between all atomic electrons. The numerical calculation is carried out for 1s² 2s² 2p² 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4f ²F^21/2, ^21/2 of Cu. The calculated interval of the doublet is -4.0 cm^-1 which agrees with the observed value -3.6 cm^-1