MOLECULAR AXIS ORIENTATION BY THE BRUTE FORCE METHOD

Using a strong electric field, it is possible to orient polar molecule s in their lowest rotational states. This ''brute force'' technique, i ntroduced by Loesch, is very powerful and has many applications. In th is paper, we recall the general theory of the effect, i.e., the proper ties of the pendular states introduced by Friedrich and Herschbach. We then discuss the effects of hyperfine structure on the orientation pr ocess. Finally, we discuss the optimization of an oriented molecular b eam of ICl.