Anisotropy of the transverse Zeeman effect and magnetic linear dichroism

Abstract

A simple method is presented to calculate the transverse Zeeman effect and magnetic linear dichroism (MLD) anisotropy patterns in systems of cubic symmetry. A number of examples are worked out completely and general results are derived for most transitions in octahedral and tetrahedral symmetry, whether spin allowed or spin forbidden. In all cases, the MLD parameters vary as a + b cos 4ф, where φ is the angle between the magnetic field (OX) and the Ox molecular axis. Although the numerical values of a and b contain Landé factors of both the ground and the excited state, their very existence depends solely on symmetry considerations, except for U′→U′ transitions. Most of our results have been established for light propagating along a tetragonal axis of a cubic centre. We note however that our calculation procedure is quite general and therefore applies as well to any direction of propagation and to all types of uniaxial centres.

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Notes on contributors

B. Briat

E.R. No. 5 du CNRS.