Abstract. Current models of quasars assume the presence of strong magnetic fields An ion moving in this magnetic field also experiences an electric field in its rest frame. Perturbation by this motional electric field mixes parity so that the forbidden magnetic-dipole transitions can possibly be turned into the much faster electric-dipole transitions. The magnetic field itself also mixes state changing the transition probabilities. It is found (i) that an electric field above about 10⁸ V cm^-1 is required to cause a significant enhancement of the forbidden line intensities in the quasar spectra and (ii) no such effect can be expected from the magnetic field.

Print publication: Issue 11 (1 August 1975)