It ain't that easy to extrapolate from single-electron atomic spectra to the spectra of polyatomics and molecules. Applicatuion of quantum mechanics becomes exceedingly messy.
The 21 cm line of hydrogen is due to a spin flip of its single electron. Oxygen has a much more complex microwave spectrum, with more than one line, unless you are talking about the O(7+) ion. There is not much of that around in outer space. In astrophysics, the main application of oxygen's microwave spectrum involves planetary atmospheres, where O2 is the species doing the absorbing.
The microwave spectrum of O2 is shown and discussed at
http://www.radiometrics.com/Strandberg_PhysRev49.pdf
If the wavelength of Hydrogen is 21.10611405413 cm,
what is the wavelength of oxygen in cm?
1 answer
1 answer