Progress made during the last few years in nonlinear optics and quantum electronics has significantly increased our understanding of the interactionbetween light and matter. Of great importance are third-order nonlinear Raman techniques such as CARS, RIKES, SRS, and DFWM. This book reflects the state of the art in coherent Raman spectroscopy. The contributions together provide an overview of the various Raman techniques that make available information about the fine structure of molecular energy levels, the collisional dynamics of atoms and molecules, and processes of internal energy disipation. Some of the contributions also report on the application of local, nonperturbing diagnosic methods forthe determination of parameters such as composition, temperature, density, velocity, and energy distribution between the internal degrees of freedom.

Inhalt

I New Techniques and Methods.- Infrared Resonant CARS in CH3F.- Hydrogen CARS Spectra Influenced by High Laser Intensities.- Linear and Nonlinear Continuum Resonance Raman Scattering in Diatomic Molecules: Experiment and Theory.- Nonlinear Interferometry.- Evaluation of the CARS Spectra of Linear Molecules in the Keilson-Storer Model.- Resonance-CARS Spectroscopy of Bio-molecules and of Molecules Sensitive to Light.- II High-Resolution Spectroscopy.- High-Resolution CARS-IR Spectroscopy of Spherical Top Molecules.- High Resolution Coherent Raman Spectroscopy: Studies of Molecular Structures.- Collisional Relaxation Processes Studied by Coherent Raman Spectroscopy for Major Species Present in Combustions.- High Resolution Inverse Raman Spectroscopy of Molecular Hydrogen.- High Resolution CARS Spectroscopy with cw Laser Excitation.- III Studies of Nonstationary Processes.- Vibrational Relaxation of IR-Laser-Excited SF6 and SiF4 Molecules Studied by CARS.- Nonlinear Transient Spectroscopy Using Four-Wave Mixing with Broad-Bandwidth Laser Beams.- Application of Single-Pulse Broadband CARS to Shock-Tube Experiments.- Pump-Probe Measurements of Rotational Transfer Rates in N2-N2 Collisions.- Dicke Effect Manifestation in Nonstationary CARS Spectroscopy.- Picosecond Coherent Raman Spectroscopy of Excited Electronic States of Polyene Chromophores.- CARS Application to Monitoring the Rotational and Vibrational Temperatures of Nitrogen in a Rapidly Expanding Supersonic Flow.- IV Selected Applications of Coherent Raman Techniques for Diagnostics of Gaseous and Liquid Media.- CARS Diagnostics of High-Voltage Atmospheric Pressure Discharge in Nitrogen.- CARS in Aerospace Research.- Coherent Rotational and Vibrational Raman Spectroscopy of CO2 Clusters.- Degenerate Four-Wave Mixing in Combustion Diagnostics.- Spatially Resolved CARS in the Study of Local Mixing of Two Liquids in a Reactor.- Pure Rotational CARS for Temperature Measurement in Turbulent Gas Flows.- Coherent Raman Scattering in High-Pressure/High-Temperature Fluids: An Overview.- Index of Contributors.