= Hyperfine structure
{wiki}
= Hyperfine transition
{synonym}
Small splits present in all levels due to interaction between the electron spin and the <nuclear spin> if it is present, i.e. the nucleus has an even number of nucleons.
As the name suggests, this energy split is very small, since the influence of the nucleus spin on the electron spin is relatively small compared to other <fine structure>.
TODO confirm: does it need <quantum electrodynamics> or is the <Dirac equation> enough?
The most important examples:
* <hydrogen line> useful in astronomy, and also the simplest possible case between 1s
* <caesium standard>, which is used to define the <second> in the <International System of Units> since 1967.