Atóms and Molecules as Fitzǵerald Oscillators

Abstract

ACCORDING to the theory of the Raman effect, the depolarisation Ï of the Raman lines in gases and liquids should, when observed at right angles to the natural incident light, never exceed the value ρ = 6/7. Whilst values of ρ≥1, which have frequently been observed, could be ascribed to observational errors, a value of ρ = 2, which has been estimated by Bhagavantam¹ for one line of liquid sulphur trioxide, called for a further investigation. I have carried out this work,² using polarised incident light with the electric vector perpendicular to the plane through the light source, scattering object and observer. Denoting by σ the depolarisation for this mode of observation, there exists between σ and ρ the relation σ = ρ/2 - p;. It is clear, that, whilst the theoretical limit for σ is ¾, one should get σ = ∞ in the case cited by Bhagavantam. This was clearly disproved by the experiment, which gave a value of σ not exceeding unity.