The Kerr spectrum of hydrogenic atoms

Abstract

The shape of the Kerr absorption line is discussed for some interesting transitions in hydrogenic atoms of nuclear charge Z, and estimates based on the use of exact wave functions are provided for the molecular Kerr constant. It is found that the distortional contribution (Voigt term) predominates over the orientational contribution (Langevin term), and the (ν02 - ν2)-3 dependence leads to regions of `normal' and `anomalous' dispersion, depending on the sign of the anisotropy of the hyperpolarizability tensor.