Quantitative description of Faraday modulation spectrometry in terms of the integrated linestrength and 1st Fourier coefficients of the modulated lineshape function

A quantitative description of the strength and shape of Faraday modulation spectrometry (FAMOS) signals is given. It is first shown how the signal can be expressed in terms of the integrated linestrength for the targeted transition, Si,,j. Secondly, since the technique relies on a periodic modulation of the transition frequency induced by an alternating magnetic field, it is explicitly shown that it is possible to express the FAMOS signal concisely in terms of 1st Fourier coefficients of a magnetic-field-modulated dispersive lineshape function for left- and right-handed circularly polarized light. Expressions for the FAMOS signal in terms of the integrated linestrength and such Fourier coefficients are given for three cases: (i) for transitions between two arbitrary types of states, (ii) for transitions between two states that both belong to Hund's coupling case (a), as is the case for rotational-vibrational transitions of NO, and finally (iii) for the commonly used Q-transitions between such states. It is finally shown that the FAMOS signal from a Q-transition can be expressed succinctly solely in terms of one 1st Fourier coefficient. A general analysis of FAMOS addressing an arbitrary Q-transition as well as the most sensitive Q3/2(32) transition in NO is given. The conditions for maximum signal are specifically identified.