The pseudo-first-order stark effect and the orientation of HXeI molecules

Abstract

We show that the gas-phase HXeI molecules can be strongly oriented via a pseudo-first-order Stark effect. This occurs owing to combined electrostatic and non-resonant laser fields acting synergically on the induced and permanent dipole moments of the molecule. The orientation effect aids in identifying the HXeI molecule, by virtue of the pronounced asymmetry of the detected H-atom fragments generated by the photodissociation of oriented HXeI.