Abstract

In an effort to resolve ambiguities concerning nitrogen's vibrational (<i>Q</i>-branch) Raman cross section at wavelengths near ∼300 nm, a series of measurements were carried out in the region between 282 and 355 nm. Members of our group have employed nitrogen Raman as a means of calibrating the detection efficiency of a ballon-borne lidar system used to measure stratospheric OH. The only known measurement in the region of interest (at 300 nm) displayed a factor-of-two enhancement over that expected theoretically, thereby introducing a significant uncertainty into the measurement. Nitrogen cross sections were measured at 282 and 306 nm, where uncertainty existed between theory and experiment, and at 355 nm, where good agreement was known to exist. As a check upon the technique, vibrational (<i>Q</i>-branch) Raman cross sections in methane and oxygen were also measured.

Cross section for the Raman effect in molecular nitrogen gas

H. A. Hyatt, J. M. Cherlow, W. R. Fenner, and S. P. S. Porto
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 63(12) 1604-1606 (1973)

Ratio of oxygen and nitrogen Raman cross sections in the ultraviolet

Gregory W. Faris and Richard A. Copeland
Appl. Opt. 36(12) 2684-2685 (1997)

Raman cross section of some simple gases

Wayne R. Fenner, Howard A. Hyatt, John M. Kellam, and S. P. S. Porto
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 63(1) 73-77 (1973)

Raman-scattering cross sections for water vapor

C. M. Penney and M. Lapp
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 66(5) 422-425 (1976)

Wavelength dependence of the Raman cross section for liquid water

Gregory W. Faris and Richard A. Copeland
Appl. Opt. 36(12) 2686-2688 (1997)