The Polarization of Mercury Resonance Radiation

Abstract

The polarization of the line $\lambda 2537\mathrm{A}$ of mercury in resonance radiation is calculated on the assumption that isotopes 199 and 201 have nuclear moments of ½ and $\frac{3}{2}$ respectively, while the even isotopes 198, 200, 202, and 204 have zero nuclear moment as Schüler and Keyston have suggested. With "broad line" and "narrow line" sources respectively, resonance radiation excited by light polarized with the electric vector parallel to the magnetic field should be 84.7 percent and 88.7 percent polarized, in fair agreement with the observations of Olson, 79 to 86 percent, and von Keussler, 79.5 percent. Relative transition probabilities within a hyperfine multiplet are calculated on the assumption of $\mathrm{LJS}$ type coupling between $J$, $F$ and $I$.