Optical anisotropy in stimulated Raman scattering in gases

Polarization and interference investigations were made of a zone where Raman emission was observed in gaseous media active in stimulated Raman scattering (STRS). Measurements were made of the change in the refractive index of an STRS-active medium at the instant of the laser action. A dependence of the induced birefringence on the angle between the directions of polarization of the exciting radiation and the probe signal was observed. It was found that birefringence only occurred at the instant of emission of the Raman radiation.