OPTICAL OBSERVATIONS OF THE STARK EFFECT ON OH

Abstract
The ultraviolet spectrum of the OH molecule has been obtained in electric fields up to 64 000 volts per cm. Stark line splittings, broadenings, and field-induced parity-forbidden transitions have been observed. The electric dipole moment of OH in its electronic and vibrational ground state (X2Π) has been determined to be (1.727 ± 0.02) Debyes. The dipole moment in the first excited vibrational state has been found to be about 4% lower.