Non-exponential correlation function in DPR: A comparison of experiment and the distorted wave born approximation

The recently observed non-exponential decay of the correlation function for the depolarized Rayleigh (DPR) line in N₂ is examined by a partial calculation of the cross section. The calculation, which is based upon a distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA), shows that the presence of inelastic collisions is necessary to account for the experimental results. Moreover, the inclusion of inelastic collisions has the consequence that the diagonal elements of the relaxation matrix are virtually constant rather than dying off as j(j + 1)]^?1.