Cotton–Mouton Effect through an Absorption Band

Abstract

Cotton–Mouton dichroism was measured for an aqueous solution of europium trichloride. The experiment was performed at room temperature through the visible ${}^7{F}_0{\mathrm{\hspace{0.17em}\to \hspace{0.17em}}}^5{D}_1$ absorption band. A phenomenological theory is given for the results thus obtained. The spectroscopic splitting factor of the excited state is determined and is shown to be in close agreement with that obtained independently through Faraday effect measurements. Optimal experimental conditions are pointed out for further work in the field.