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MENTAL MODEL · M6045

Stark Effect

Stark Effect
TechnicalHigh supportQuantum Mechanics
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-28

CORE DEFINITION

The Stark effect is the phenomenon of displacement and splitting of spectral lines of atoms and molecules in an external electric field. The amount of splitting and displacement is called Stark splitting or Stark shift. The Stark effect can be divided into first-order and second-order Stark effects. In the first-order case, the spectral splitting or shift is linearly related to the electric field strength, while in the second-order case, it is quadratically related. The Stark effect corresponds to pressure broadening of spectral lines of charged particles (Stark broadening). When the splitting or displacement of spectral lines occurs in absorption lines, it is called the inverse Stark effect. The Stark effect caused by an electric field is similar to the Zeeman effect, where spectral lines split into several components due to a magnetic field. The Stark effect can be explained using full quantum mechanics, but there are also many approaches based on semi-classical physics.

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The Stark effect is the phenomenon of displacement and splitting of spectral lines of atoms and molecules in an external electric field. The amount of splitting and displacement is called Stark splitting or Stark shift. The Stark effect can be divided into first-order and second-order Stark effects. In the first-order case, the spectral splitting or shift is linearly related to the electric field strength, while in the second-order case, it is quadratically related. The Stark effect corresponds to pressure broadening of spectral lines of charged particles (Stark broadening).

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The splitting and displacement of atomic spectral lines under an external electric field is the response of quantum energy levels to the electric field. It is one of the physical foundations of spectral analysis.

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Source support: Explicit

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    zh.wikipedia.orghttps://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%96%AF%E5%A1%94%E5%85%8B%E6%95%88%E5%BA%94ZH · Explicit
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