Mandel'shtam-Brillouin scattering of laser light as a remote sensing tool.
The mathematical relations regarding the intensity of scattered light are derived. The nature of density inhomogeneities in air is discussed together with scattering due to moving isothermal pressure fluctuations, the spectral distribution of scattering from static isobaric density fluctuations, and applications of Mandel'shtam-Brillouin (M-B) scattering to atmospheric sensing. It is concluded that M-B scattering of laser light from the atmosphere has an outstanding potential for remote atmospheric sensing.