Alignment determination of symmetric top molecule using rotationally resolved LIF

This payer presents a concrete theoretical treatment which can be used for transforming the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) intensity into the popula tion and alignment parameters of a symmetric top molecule, The molecular po pulation and alignment are described by molecular state multipoles. The res ults are presented in a general excitation-detection geometry and then spec ialized in some special geometries. The problem how to extract the initial molecular state multipoles from the rotationally resolved LIF intensity is discussed in detail. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.