Circularly polarised laser (CPL) field causes a shift proportional to the beam intensity, in the nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of all substances. As opposite shifts are obtained for left- and right-CPL, switching between the two splits the resonance lines. We present quadratic response calculations of the splitting for atomic Ne-21, Kr-83 and Xe-129, both far away from and approaching optical resonance. Off-resonance shifts of the order 0.01, 0.1 and 1 x 10(-6) Hz for Ne-21, Kr-83 and Xe-129, respectively, are predicted for the beam intensity of 10 W/cm(2). Large enhancement occurs when the frequency increases and/or systems of increasing polarisability are concerned. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.