Vector Polarization Induced by a Viscous Gas Flow in a Magnetic Field

It is shown that a viscous flow of a polyatomic gas in a magnetic field can give rise to a vector polarization of the molecular rotational angular momenta. This viscomagnetic vector polarization is calculated from an appropriate set of moment equations pertaining to the linearized Waldmann-Snider equation. In particular, the transverse effect is discussed and an estimate of its order of magnitude is given for nitrogen.