Rayleigh and Raman Scattering by H₂ in a Planetary Atmosphere

Approximate calculations of the reflected intensities of the various frequency-shifted Raman components are presented for a planetary atmosphere of pure H2 in which there is no absorption of photons. The disagreement between the calculated and observed geometric albedos of Uranus and Neptune below 5000 A does not necessarily void the suggestion that particulate scattering is unimportant in these atmospheres. A more certain test would come fmm a spectroscopic search for an admixture of the Fraunhofer spectrum shifted by 354 . This component could comprise about 10 percent of the reflected intensity. It is also very likely that the observed center-to-limb variation would mimic that for simple nonconservative scattering.