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A hydrogen atom with proton and electron spins aligned (top) undergoes a flip of the electron spin, resulting in emission of a photon with a 21 cm wavelength (bottom) The hydrogen line, 21 centimeter line, or H I line [a] is a spectral line that is created by a change in the energy state of solitary, electrically neutral hydrogen atoms.
In its most common variant, 21 cm intensity mapping, the 21cm emission line of neutral hydrogen is used to trace the gas. The hydrogen follows fluctuations in the underlying cosmic density field, with regions of higher density giving rise to a higher intensity of emission.
For example, the 2 → 1 line is called "Lyman-alpha" (Ly-α), while the 7 → 3 line is called "Paschen-delta" (Pa-δ). Energy level diagram of electrons in hydrogen atom. There are emission lines from hydrogen that fall outside of these series, such as the 21 cm line.
The waterhole, or water hole, is an especially quiet band of the electromagnetic spectrum between 1420 and 1662 megahertz, corresponding to wavelengths of 18–21 centimeters. It is a popular observing frequency used by radio telescopes in radio astronomy. [1]
The hydrogen line, 21 centimeter line or HI line refers to the electromagnetic radiation spectral line that is created by a change in the energy state of neutral hydrogen atoms. This electromagnetic radiation is at the precise frequency of 1420.40575177 MHz, which is equivalent to the vacuum wavelength of 21.10611405413 cm in free space.
The amount of energy needed to reverse the spin of the electron is equivalent to a photon at the frequency of 1.420 405 751 768 GHz, [1] which corresponds to the 21 cm line in the hydrogen spectrum. Hydrogen masers are very complex devices and sell for as much as US$235,000. [2] There are two types to be distinguished: active and passive.
Hyperfine structure gives the 21 cm line observed in H I regions in interstellar medium. Carl Sagan and Frank Drake considered the hyperfine transition of hydrogen to be a sufficiently universal phenomenon so as to be used as a base unit of time and length on the Pioneer plaque and later Voyager Golden Record.
Electromagnetic – the hyperfine transition of hydrogen, also known as the hydrogen line or 21 cm line 2.4 GHz: Electromagnetic – microwave ovens, wireless LANs and cordless phones (starting in 1998) 2.6–3.8 GHz: A common desktop CPU speed as of 2014 5.8 GHz: Electromagnetic – cordless telephone frequency introduced in 2003 10 10: 10 GHz