Magneto-optic spectra of the A 2Σ+–X 2Πi transition of OH

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We investigated the resonant magneto‐optic spectra of the electronic band A 2Σ+–X 2Πi of the OH radical. The theoretical analysis was made under the condition that OH radicals were subjected to an externally applied magnetic field, which was oriented in a direction longitudinal (the Faraday configuration) or transverse (the Voigt configuration) to the optical path. Light interacting with the OH radicals was assumed to be elliptically polarized. The polarization change caused by the magnetically induced optical anisotropy of the OH radical was calculated as a function of the frequency and the ellipticity of the incident light, the orientation of the polarization analyzer, and the number density of the OH radicals. Experiments were carried out in the Voigt configuration using a narrow‐band tunable dye laser as a light source. The observed profiles of the Voigt‐effect signal for the rotational lines of the various branches agreed with theoretical predictions.