Observation of the Formation of 0-π Pulses in Rotation Spectra of HCN and HBr

We present the first experimental study of the formation of 0-π pulses in the far infrared region. Experiments were made in rotation spectra of HCN and HBr molecules using a Novosibirsk terahertz free electron laser (NovoFEL) as a source of optical pulses and ultra-fast Schottky diode as detector. Transformation of the shape of 0-π pulses was explored within a wide range of optical density. Throughout the range of experimental conditions, the observed pulse shape is well described by the analytical formula of Grisp (Phys. Rev. A 1 (1970) 1604). The observed effect can be used for time-domain measurements of the oscillator strength of the absorption line.