Total intensity measurements of depolarized Rayleigh scattering from linear molecules

Abstract

Total intensity data for depolarized Rayleigh scattering are reported for N{sub 2}, CO{sub 2}, and N{sub 2}O for different densities ranging from 1 to 600 amagats. An internal standard has been used to calibrate the intensity data. The reduced total intensity values, I{sup TOT}/{rho}, show significant decay when density is increased. A comparison with theoretical results explains qualitatively the observed density dependence of the total intensity as an effect associated with contributions due to the induced and the cross terms. The magnitudes of these contributions can be related to molecular polarizabilities.