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Paper: The Molecular Paschen-Back Effect
Volume: 358, Solar Polarization 4
Page: 329
Authors: Berdyugina, S.V.; Fluri, D.M.; Solanki, S.K.
Abstract: The molecular Paschen-Back effect (PBE) lacks a detailed description since the problem was first addressed by Hill in 1929. However, many diatomic molecules exhibit the PBE at field strengths typical of sunspots and active cool stars. Recently we have presented a complete theoretical description of the molecular PBE in Hund's cases (a), (b), and all intermediate cases. This description allows us to compute the splitting of levels of any multiplicity and the transitions between them. We find that in the partial PBE regime strongly asymmetric Stokes profiles are produced, whose strengths and asymmetries depend sensitively on the magnetic field. Also, the strength of the forbidden and satellite transitions increases rapidly with field strength, while the strength of the main branch transitions decreases. These signatures hold promise to form the basis of new diagnostics of solar and stellar magnetic fields.
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