RAYLEIGH SCATTERING OF COHERENT LIGHT BY GASES,

Abstract

The experiment was designed to study Rayleigh scattering using laser light (6943A) and to determine if the laser can be used as a diagnostic tool to determine scattering center density. The scattered light intensity from argon, oxygen, nitrogen and air was observed. The angular dependence of scattered light intensity for different polarizations of the incident laser beam was observed for argon gas, and a linear relationship between scattered intensity and pressure exists for all gases studied. The relative differential scattering cross sections for argon, nitrogen and oxygen were determined and compared with different theoretical predictions. The combined results indicate that it is possible to determine densities within reasonable accuracy between one atmosphere and ten microns under the conditions of this experimental arrangement. The problems of observations and the limitation of this technique are discussed. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0616706

Entities

People

  • H. J. Watson
  • J. R. Thornton
  • R. R. Mitchell

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Atmospheres
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Electromagnetic Scattering
  • Intensity
  • Laser Beams
  • Lasers
  • Light Sources
  • Nitrogen
  • Observation
  • Polarization
  • Rayleigh Scattering
  • Scattering
  • Scattering Cross Sections

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers