The use of lasers in Raman spectroscopy

The advent of the laser as a Raman source has revitalized the interest of physicists in the Raman effect. Measurements of precise depolarization factors, angular dependence, and absolute cross sections for Raman scattering became easier to make. The use of the 6328 Å He-Ne and the 4880 and 5145 Å argon ion laser lines allow high signal-to-noise continuous recording of the Raman effect for liquids and solids. The problem of averaging all the random orientations of the liquid molecules has been restudied, and its effect on the angular dependence and depolarization factors of the Raman lines in liquids will be given. Measurements of Raman scattering in solids, where the use of the laser is revolutionizing the subject, will be discussed.