Just like an electron, a proton is spin 1/2 and has a magnetic moment. (According to nuclear theory, this moment is due to the orbital motion of quarks within the proton.) The hyperfine structure of t...Just like an electron, a proton is spin 1/2 and has a magnetic moment. (According to nuclear theory, this moment is due to the orbital motion of quarks within the proton.) The hyperfine structure of the hydrogen spectrum is explained by the interaction between the magnetic moment of the proton and the magnetic moment of the electron, an interaction known as spin-spin coupling.
The spin angular momentum quantum of an electron is = +½. The spin angular momentum projection quantum number is ms =+½or−½ (spin up or spin down). The energy of the electron-proton system is differen...The spin angular momentum quantum of an electron is = +½. The spin angular momentum projection quantum number is ms =+½or−½ (spin up or spin down). The energy of the electron-proton system is different depending on whether or not the moments are aligned. Transitions between these states (spin-flip transitions) result in the emission of a photon.
