Low-frequency structure in the depolarized spectrum of argon

Abstract

Depolarized Rayleigh scattering spectra have been obtained in argon at five thermodynamic states. For the three spectra at liquid‐like densities a relatively narrow component (half‐width ≲10 cm⁻¹) was discovered in the spectra. This component exhibits a roughly Lorentzian line shape and with it is associated about half of the total depolarized intensity. Its origin is the so‐called ’’dipole‐induced dipole’’ effect and it is assumed that it reflects the correlated motions of an atom and its near neighbors.