Sharp Resonances in Radiationless Transitions

We have observed extremely sharp Doppler-free resonances in the measurement of molecular lifetimes of ex-cited states in the low pressure gas-phase of naphthalene. These resonances are seen at extremely low magnetic fields and have a width of only 3 Gauss. Their extreme sharpness of 2.8 × 10−4 cm−1 is within a factor of 2 of the natural width of the radiationless transition, and some 130 fold below the Doppler width of the state considered. Such sharp resonances should provide unique insights into the states and dynamics of radiationless processes. They are probably due to sharp field dependent changes in the non-radiative coupling strength of the spin-orbit transition into the triplet.