Optically Induced Nuclear Magnetization. A Progress Report

Following a suggestion by A. Kastler, an attempt has been made to produce a high degree of nuclear orientation in ${\mathrm{Hg}}^{199}$ vapor by the absorption of circularly polarized resonance radiation. A method is described for detecting the nuclear orientation by observing the intensity of the $\pi$-component of the resonance radiation. No indication of orientation was found. The probable cause for this failure is considered to be the imprisonment and consequent depolarization of the effective component of the resonance radiation.