Eur. Phys. J. D 26, 33-37 (2003)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2003-00077-9

Orientation of polar molecules with combined electrostatic and pulsed, nonresonant laser fields

Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan

Corresponding author: ^a hsakai@phys.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Received: 15 November 2002
Revised: 16 January 2003
Published online: 24 April 2003

Abstract

We show that molecules with a moderate permanent dipole moment can be oriented with combined electrostatic and pulsed, nonresonant laser fields. Carbonyl sulfide (OCS) molecules are used as a sample. The degree of orientation can be increased by increasing the peak intensity of the laser field and the magnitude of electrostatic field or by decreasing the initial rotational temperature of the molecules.