Stimulated scattering of light in gases near the critical point

Transverse stimulated thermal Rayleigh scattering was observed at a threshold power density 10 MW/cm² in ether and pentane vapors containing absorbing admixtures of complex organic molecules; the scattering was observed near the critical point. It is suggested that gases near the critical point be used for low-threshold nonlinear conversion of wavefronts and frequencies of incident radiation.