The AC Stark effect was observed during a microwave-(sub)millimeter wave double resonance experiment that was developed to ease the assignment of lines in complex spectra. This experiment utilized technology employed in both chirped-pulse microwave spectroscopy and in fast-sweep direct absorption (sub)millimeter wave spectroscopy. Line splitting was observed during the double-resonance tests; these split lines were determined to be Autler-Townes doublets arising from the AC Stark effect induced by the electric field of the microwave radiation during the on-resonance measurements. These results were in contrast to the expected movement of population seen in previous double resonance experiments involving higher microwave power. While the result was unexpected, the observed line splitting can be used as a valuable tool in assigning spectra for molecules that display spectral complexity, such as fluxional species or species with numerous vibrational states populated at experimental temperatures. The experimental design and the proof-of-concept double resonance spectra of methanol will be presented.

AC Stark effect observed in a microwave-(sub)millimeter wave double resonance experiment

256th National Meeting (2018)

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