Rotational and vibrational Raman scattering in H2

Abstract

Simulated Raman scattering in H2 has been investigated with circularly, linearly, and randomly polarized XeCl laser pulses by varying H2 pressure. The effects of pump radiation polarization and focusing geometry on Raman conversion to rotational and vibrational lines have been investigated. It is shown that circularly polarized pump pulses, high-angle focusing geometries, and/or Raman medium pressures favor the conversion to purely rotational lines, as a consequence of gain suppression effects on vibrational scattering.