Comment on the Analysis of Microwave Rotational Zeeman Effect Spectra of Symmetric Top Molecules

It is pointed out that the translational Lorentz effect which has been neglected in all previous analysis of rotational Zeeman spectra has considerable effects on the overall appearance of the Zeeman multiplets if the rotational transitions show first order Stark effect. This situation occurs for symmetric tops and for E-species transitions of molecules with low barrier internal rotations. Inclusion of the translational Lorentz effect leads to corrections to the published ^n-values of symmetric tops which are far outside the quoted experimental uncertainties. As an example numerical results are given for CH3F and CHSCCH.