We report the experimental rotational Raman spectra of H2O, and of a mixture of D2O and HDO in the vapor phase at room temperature, and their interpretation in terms of rotational-vibrational energies, wavefunctions, and transition moments of the molecular polarizability. These transition moments are based on high-level ab initio calculations of the wavelength dependent polarizability surface, and on wavefunctions where the rotational-vibrational coupling is considered in detail. As a byproduct of this analysis several tables have been compiled including scattering strengths and assignments for individual rotational transitions of the three species. From these tables the rotational Raman spectra can be simulated over the range of temperatures up to 2000 K for H2O, and up to 300 K for D2O and HDO. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
