Possibility of directly observing Autler-Townes power splitting of certain rotational lines with an intense ir laser

The possibility of simultaneous induction and detection, with an intense single mode ir laser, of the Autler Townes splittings of certain rovibrational lines in diatomics is discussed. A model based on the accurately known molecular parameters and dipole matrix elements of CO is used to exhibit the power splitting effect for the case of two quantum excitation. The power splitting effect, which exhibits a threshold as a function of laser intensity is clearly discernable in both the two and one quantum absorption profiles as well as in the total absorption spectrum. Using a simple qualitative rule we predict that such rovibrational line splittings should also be observable in an analogous set of transitions in other diatomics.