Backward stimulated Raman scattering on the Q12(1) transition in vibrationally excited hydrogen molecules

The results are reported of an experimental investigation of the backward stimulated Raman scattering on the vibrational transitions Q01(1) and Q12(1) in hydrogen molecules subjected to nonmonochromatic laser pumping. The experiments were carried out in a wide range of gas pressures at pump powers corresponding to an exponential enhancement of the intensities of the Stokes components. Under the conditions of tight focusing of the pump radiation and in the absence of feedback the backward scattering on the Q12(1) transition was accompanied by complete suppression of the forward (concurrent) scattering. (nonlinear optical phenomena)