Past exam of the atomic and laser physics course of the University of Oxford / 2021 / 4 / a / Solution

The closed $1s^{2}2s^2$ shells have $L=S=0$, leaving the equivalent $2p^2$ electrons. Addition of angular momentum and the Pauli exclusion principle permit the atomic terms ${}^{3}P,{}^{1}D,{}^{1}S$. Their term symbols use ${}^{2S+1}{L}_J$. Hund's rules put the triplet state below the singlet states; for a less-than-half-filled $p$ shell the smallest $J$ in ${}^{3}P$ is lowest. ThusAll have even parity. These assignments agree with independent tabulated carbon energy levels.^[ref] The rounded source values should not be forced to satisfy an exact Landé interval rule; pure first-order LS coupling need not account for every measured fine structure correction.