Saturation of the intensity of stimulated Raman scattering under quasisteady conditions

An investigation was made of the influence of the geometric excitation conditions on the energy dependences of the stimulated scattering of focused laser pulses of ~ 10^–8 sec duration when the sharpness and depth of focusing were varied. The experimental results obtained in this study were interpreted theoretically on the basis of a quantum analysis of stimulated Raman scattering in a two-level system. The experimental relationships could be explained only if an allowance was made for the changes in the populations of the levels participating in the Raman transition. It was possible to select the experimental conditions so that reconstruction of the wavefront of the pump radiation was observed under stimulated scattering conditions in a wide energy range.