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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 July 2001
A complex stimulated Raman scattering event against a background of non-thermal ion acoustic waves in an inhomogeneous plasma is described. We obtain analytic forms for the Raman gain due to a five-wave interaction consisting of conventional three-wave Raman scattering followed by the decay of the Raman Langmuir wave into a second Langmuir wave (or a second scattered light wave) and an ion acoustic wave. Very modest levels of ion waves produce a significant effect on Raman convective gain. A combination of plasma inhomogeneity and suprathermal ion fluctuations may offer a means for the control of Raman gain.