The Spinning Electron

Abstract

We have seen in §8 that Schrödingers Wave Equation, which includes a magnetic perturbation term κH · L in the energy operator (κ = Bohr’s magneton) can only explain the “normal” Zeeman effect as it occurs in the singlet terms. In order to explain the anomalous Zeeman effect and the multiplet splitting, it thus appears indispensible to assume, in addition to the magnetic moment of the orbital motion, another magnetic moment not depending on the orbital motion. According to the hypothesis of Uhlenbeck and Goudsmit, this moment arises from the so-called spin, i.e. from the angular momentum of the “spinning” electron ¹.