Magnetic dipole transitions in the hydrogen molecule

In homonuclear molecules, such as H2, the electric dipole transitions are strongly forbidden, and the transitions between rovibrational states are of the electric quadrupole type. We show however, that magnetic dipole transitions also take place, although are significantly weaker. We evaluate the probabilities of such transitions between several lowest rotational states and compare them with those of the corresponding electric quadrupole transitions. PACS numbers: 33.15.Kr, 31.15.vn, 95.30.Ky, 33.20.Ea ∗Electronic address: [email protected] †Electronic address: [email protected]