The depolarized interaction-induced light scattering spectrum of mercury vapor at low density

The two-body collision induced Light scattering spectra of pure mercury vapor have been computed at different temperatures. The spectra consist of several contributions: purely translational scattering due to the transitions between free-free states and the scattering due to bound dimers. The data were compared with calculations of the spectral profiles. These comparisons allowed: (i) testing of a scaling law for the pair polarizability anisotropy responsible for the translational spectra; (ii) assessment of available interatomic potentials. In this paper, we report and employ for the first time accurate calculations of the dimer spectra for these atoms. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.