Polarizability and hyperpolarizability

Abstract

The oscillating charge and current distributions induced in matter by a beam of light are expressed in terms of molecular polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities. The symmetry of these property tensors under space and time reversal is examined and methods for their measurement considered. Depolarization of light scattering, optical rotation and differential scattering of right and left circularly polarized light are discussed, as are the effects of vibration and of collisions on the intensities of light scattering. Nonlinear polarization and the measurement of hyperpolarizabilities are briefly examined.