Abstract

Time-resolved optical double resonance (ODR) spectroscopy is a well-established technique¹ capable of preparing a molecule in a specific rotational or rovibrational quantum state and then monitoring subsequent relaxation of the disequilibrium thereby created. This technique is vitally dependent on the selectivity provided by tunable pulsed laser excitation and on the sensitivity associated with detection techniques such as laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), multiple-photon ionisation, coherent Raman spectroscopy, or optical polarisation changes.

© 1988 Optical Society of America