Atoms and molecules as Fitzgerald oscillators

Abstract

In his studies on the polarisation of scattered radiations, Bhagavantam, besides recording numerous cases in which the displaced lines in the spectrum of the light transversely scattered by liquids exhibit complete depolarisation, also discovered in the case of sulphur trioxide liquid an anomalously polarised line. The depolarisation of this line exceeded unity; in other words, the horizontal component, instead of being weaker, as in normally polarised lines, was actually stronger than the vertical component. Critical and systematic investigations undertaken by S. Venkateswaran definitely confirm the existence of such anomalous polarisation in the spectra of light-scattering by various organic liquids, and indicate that it is by no means an unusual phenomenon.