Selection of Raman laser materials

In order to select Raman laser materials for a specific purpose, it is important to know which frequency shifts and excitation power thresholds can be expected from various substances. The thresholds are strongly dependent on the peak scattering cross sections of the corresponding incoherent Raman lines, and these cross sections can vary by several orders of magnitude between Raman lines from different molecules as well as between Raman lines from a single molecule. This paper points out how the rules concerning frequencies, intensities, degrees of depolarization, and line widths, established for incoherent Raman scattering, can be used as a guide for the prediction of Raman laser performance for new materials. Subsequently, all substances and participating vibrations which have been reported to exhibit stimulated Raman scattering to date are listed and discussed.