Raman induced Kerr effect spectroscopy using pulsed lasers

Abstract

We examine the sensitivity of a coherent Raman spectrometer measuring optically heterodyned Raman induced Kerr effect spectra (OHD-RIKES) with pulsed lasers. Theoretically we show that an optimum OHD RIKES spectrometer is 10 3 more sensitive than quasi-cw stimulated Raman gain spectroscopy (SRGS). Experimental tests of OHD-RIKES using a pulsed probe laser confirm the estimated signal-to-noise ratios. With higher power lasers this technique will provide sufficient sensitivities to detect particle densities as low as 10 11 cm -3.