Anisotropy in the Dicke Narrowing of Rotational Raman Lines (A New Measure of the Nonsphericity of Intermolecular Forces)

Abstract

The diffusion coefficient characterizing the Dicke narrowing of the rotational Raman lines, in general, depends on the polarizations of the incident and scattered light and on the scattering angle. Experimental results for the anisotropic diffusion coefficient are presented for 90° scattering and vv and vh polarizations of the S₀(1) line in gaseous hydrogen. The physical interpretation of the observed anisotropy is given with the help of a simple collision model.