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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 August 2015
The Zeeman effect can be used to measure directly the longitudinal component of the magnetic field in interstellar neutral hydrogen clouds. The frequency separation between the two circularly polarized components is 28 c/s for 10–5 G and can be inferred from measurements of the intensity difference between left- and right-hand circular polarization as a function of frequency. Earlier experiments at Jodrell Bank showed that the mean field in the interstellar medium was less than 10–5 G (Davies et al. 1960). Recent work using more sensitive techniques has provided a positive measurement of a weak general magnetic field and of fields of varying intensity in different interstellar clouds.