Applications of stimulated Raman scattering

The applications of stimulated Raman scattering reviewed in this paper include: determination of spontaneous Raman parameters and nonlinear susceptibilities by gain measurements and coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy, excitation of molecular vibrations and lattice waves and measurement of their relaxation times, generation of intense tunable light in the infrared region of the spectrum. The main results of the theory of stimulated Raman scattering relevant to the understanding of these applications are discussed.     

Ham reduction factors for the general Г8-(e+t) Jahn-Teller Hamiltonian

The quenching factors (Ham reduction factors) of the Г₈-(e+t) Jahn-Teller system with arbitrary coupling parameters D_? and D_τ are presented. The calculations are based on a group-theoretical approach combined with the application of a canonical transformation which leads to 2 different diagonalization procedures for the weak and intermediate as well as for the intermediate and strong coupling case. The results are accurate in the whole coupling range.     

Giant Raman optical activity of the 128-cm-1 mode in α-quartz

The threshold intensity of stimulated Raman scattering along the c-axis in α-quartz was measured for the 128-cm^-1 optical lattice vibration as a function of pump laser polarization at T = 10 K. In a right-handed, optically active quartz crystal the Raman threshold intensity for left-handed, circularly polarized pump light was lower by a factor of about 1.5 than for right-handed, circularly polarized light. The difference in threshold intensity is discussed in terms of Raman optical activity.     

Human calcitonin. I. Isolation and characterization

Two highly active calcitonin peptides, M with 32 amino acids, and D a dimer of M, were isolated from a large human mediastinal C cell tumour. D can easily be transformed into M by the action of 1N ammonia; D and M afford two different sulphoxides, but all four peptides yield the same product upon oxidation with performic acid. Both D and M have a potency of about 120 MRC units/mg dry weight; their sulphoxides, by contrast, are almost inactive. Tryptic digestion of M produces an N-terminal octadecapeptide (Tr_I) and a C-terminal tetradecapeptide (Tr_II), the latter being also obtained from D. Amino acid analysis and other analytical data are presented. The structure of the human calcitonin peptides D and M is thus very different from that of porcine α-thyrocalcitonin.     

Temperature dependence of vibrational energy relaxation in liquid oxygen

The energy relaxation of the lowest vibrational level (υ = 1) of liquid oxygen in the electronic ground state was investigated within a wide temperature range (53.4 K ? T ? 96 K). The relaxation time exhibits a peak value of τ′ ≈ 3.1 ms around 65 K and is shorter at lower and higher temperatures. The observed temperature behavior is discussed in view of theoretical models of energy relaxation in liquids.