Mid-IR Zeeman spectrum of nitric oxide molecules in a strong magnetic field

Abstract

Nonlinear Zeeman splitting of ro-vibrational spectral lines of nitric oxide molecules in a variable magnetic field with maximum induction up to 6 T was studied both experimentally and theoretically. A single line frequency-tunable CO laser operating in the wavelength range of ∼5–6 µm was employed to detect absorption of its radiation by NO molecules versus time, i.e. to detect laser magnetic resonance (LMR) spectrograms. These LMR spectrograms were simulated with a numerical model in which Zeeman shifting of ro-vibrational energetic levels in the magnetic field was calculated with the perturbation theory of different orders. The observed LMR spectrograms appeared to be in adequate agreement with the numerical data calculated in the third order of the perturbation theory.