Abstract

There are two forbidden spectral lines of neutral antimony (Sb I) in the visible range which are mixtures of magnetic dipole (MD) and electric quadrupole (EQ) radiation. Their Zeeman effect was studied previously to determine the relative intensities of these two types of radiation by using separated isotopes (121 and 123) and observing in both parallel and perpendicular directions to the magnetic field.¹ Observation of interference between MD and EQ allows the determination of relative percentages of the two types of radiation in the line. A new computer simulation technique, recently developed and proved very useful in similar studies on Bi I and Bi II,² was applied to a comparison of the old microphotometer traces for Sb I with the new predicted patterns. Much more reliable results are now obtained which do not differ much from the previously reported data.

© 1987 Optical Society of America