Difference in polarizabilities as a characteristic of Raman-active properties of a molecule

It is shown that difference in polarizabilities between the states forming a Raman-active transition is a convenient characteristic for describing the properties of a molecule with respect to Raman light scattering. Expressions have been derived for the amplification factor of stimulated Raman scattering and a spontaneous Raman scattering cross-section through the difference in the polarizabilities. Numerical estimates for hydrogen have been made.