Physics
Zeeman Effect: Quantum Interactions in Magnetic Fields
Quick fact
Discovered by Pieter Zeeman in 1896, the effect earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1902. It was one of the first direct confirmations that electrons possess quantized angular momentum.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever wondered how astronomers measure the magnetic fields of distant stars? The answer lies in a subtle splitting of light that reveals the hidden quantum dance of electrons with magnetism.