THE INFLUENCE OF L-MIXING ON FARADAY-ROTATION SPECTRA

The influence of l-mixing on the alkali spectra Li and Na is computed in the of a strong magnetic field within an effective potential model which adequately represents the field-free atomic spectra through an empirically determined quantum defect. It is shown that recent observations of Faraday rotation spectra can be understood in the light of our calculations. In particular, in the case of Na, the original analysis of experimental data suggested that a correction must be applied to high series members as a result of the influence of the external field. The origin of this correction is now explained. In the case of Li, the empirical correction is shown to arise from a different cause.