Enhanced Raman scattering by spatially distributed atomic coherence

We demonstrate experimentally an enhancement in Raman scattering in Rb atomic vapor due to the atomic coherence initially prepared by a weak write laser. We find that the enhanced Raman scattering depends on the spatial distribution of the atomic spin coherence and can be explained with a simple picture of three-wave mixing. This effect can in principle be used to have a light conversion efficiency near unity in Raman process. Such an enhanced Raman scattering may have practical applications in quantum information, nonlinear optics, and laser spectroscopy.