Rotational dynamics of an asymmetric top molecule in parallel electric and non-resonant laser fields

We present a theoretical study of the rotational dynamics of asymmetry top molecules in an electric field and a parallel non-resonant linearly polarized laser pulse. The time-dependent Schrödinger equation is solved within the rigid rotor approximation. Using the benzonitrile molecule as prototype, we investigate the field-dressed dynamics for experimentally accessible field configurations and compare these results to the adiabatic predictions. We show that for an asymmetric top molecule in parallel fields, the formation of the pendular doublets and the avoided crossings between neighboring levels are the two main sources of non-adiabatic effects. We also provide the field parameters under which the adiabatic dynamics would be achieved.