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Issue A&A Volume 385, Number 2, April II 2002 Page(s) 701 - 715 Section Physical and chemical processes DOI 10.1051/0004-6361:20020130

A&A 385, 701-715 (2002)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20020130

The molecular Zeeman effect and diagnostics of solar and stellar magnetic fields

I. Theoretical spectral patterns in the Zeeman regime

S. V. Berdyugina¹ and S. K. Solanki<sup>2

1</sup>  Astronomy Division, University of Oulu, PO Box 3000, 90401 Oulu, Finland
²  Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie, 37191 Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany

(Received 7 September 1991 / Accepted 21 January 2002 )

Abstract
An overview of the theory of the Zeeman effect in diatomic molecules for the limiting Hund's cases (a) and (b) is given and a numerical approach for the intermediate coupling case (a-b) is developed. In contrast to earlier derivations, which were limited to doublets, this approach is valid for terms of any multiplicity. General properties of the Zeeman effect for the various cases are deduced. Finally, calculated Landé factors for prominent molecular bands in sunspot and cool-star spectra are employed to predict the general behaviour of these bands in the presence of a magnetic field below the Paschen-Back limit. The limiting field strength is calculated and listed.

Key words: molecular processes -- Sun: magnetic fields -- stars: magnetic fields -- techniques: polarimetric

Offprint request: S. V. Berdyugina, Sveta.Berdyugina@oulu.fi

SIMBAD Objects in preparation

© ESO 2002

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