title: Stimulated effects in N(2) and CH(4) gases.
abstract: Stimulated Brillouin scattering from N(2) and CH(4) using a giant-pulse laser has been observed in an arrangement whereby the laser cannot relase and amplify the back-scattered radiation. This allows a quantitative study of the parameters affecting stimulated Brillouin scattering. The back-scattered beam converges at the same angle at which the laser beam diverges. The Brillouin component can have a narrow spectral width, one-third that of the laser itself, and in some cases can have a duration of only a few nanoseconds. N(2) at high pressure can back-scatter as much as 45% of the incident power. The speeds of sound in CH(4) and N(2) have been measured at lower pressures than were previously reported.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Wick
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Rank