Backward Stimulated Raman Scattering in Shock-Compressed Benzene

Backward stimulated Raman scattering measurements have been used to measure the frequency shift of the 992-cm/sup -1/ vibrational ring-stretching mode of benzene shock-compressed to pressures of 0.6 to 1.2 GPa. Results of the dynamic experiment are compared to shifts measured for benzene isothermally compressed with a diamond-anvil cell. A Grueneisen mode ..gamma.. was determined for this vibrational degree of freedom.