Rayleigh and Raman scattering from optically active molecules

Abstract The intensity of Rayleigh and Raman scattering from optically active molecules is shown to be slightly different in right and left circularly polarized incident light. The circular intensity differential of the Rayleigh line is dependent on components of the optical activity tensor, and that of the Raman lines is a function of the variation of the optical activity with the vibrational coordinates. This circular intensity differential might be of the order of 10-3 times that of the Rayleigh or Raman intensity.