We present a new, rotationally invariant formalism for the theory of stimulated Raman scattering. The formalism is applied to Raman transitions of well-defined rotational symmetry, e.g., rotational Raman (Stokes) transitions, yielding the explicit dependence of gain on light polarization, phase mismatch, and frequency offset.

• Received 24 December 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.58.2039