Abstract
The Zeeman spectra and quantum beats of glyoxal from superposition of singlet and triplet states were discussed. Decays of individual rovibronic levels of trans-glyoxal in its first excited singlet state were investigated in supersonic-jet conditions. Several rotational levels display oscillatory decay from coherent excitation of superposition of singlet and triplet states. The complex beat pattern was explored on varying the polarization of the laser beam relative to an external magnetic field.