Collision-induced radio-frequency transitions in CH3I

The highly sensitive method of radio-frequency-infrared double resonance inside a CO2 laser is applied to study collision-induced transitions in CH3I in a four-level double resonance scheme. Pure nuclear quadrupole resonances are observed as the result of collision population transfer between different rotational levels. The intensity ratios of the collision-induced dips to the corresponding three-level double resonance signals are measured for a number of transitions in the ground and excited vibrational states. Collision selection rules in the pure gas and in mixtures with polar and non-polar gases are discussed.