Nitric oxide beam intensity oscillations induced by the combined action of a static and a radio frequency electric field

This paper details an experimental and theoretical investigation in which a simplified version of the molecular beam electric resonance technique is employed that requires the use of a C-field only. In the experiment the forward intensity of a NO beam is measured as a function of the frequency of the oscillating electric field over the 900-1460 kHz range. Specifically, the interaction of the NO beam with a radio frequency (rf) field of 1.12 kV/m amplitude and -610 kV/m² of gradient at the horizontal plane during 72 μs produces a series of oscillations in the transmitted beam intensity. The theoretical analysis shows how the interaction between a beam of NO molecules and both a static and oscillating rf field produces interferences in the forward beam intensity and how the observed interferences are due to superposition of molecular internal states. Furthermore, the interference model reproduces satisfactorily the observed beam intensity oscillations. The present technique could be useful for the development of new schemes to achieve coherent control of molecular processes using radiowaves.