Theory of electronic Raman scattering in nearly antiferromagnetic Fermi liquids

A theory of electronic Raman scattering in nearly antiferromagnetic Fermi l iquids is constructed using the phenomenological electron-electron interact ion introduced by Millis, Monien, and Pines. The role of "hot spots" and th eir resulting signatures in the channel dependent Raman spectra is highligh ted, and different scaling regimes are addressed. The effects of self-consi stency and vertex corrections are compared to a perturbative treatment of t he interaction. The theory is then compared to Raman spectra taken in the n ormal state of cuprate superconductors, and it is shown that many features of the symmetry-dependent spectra can be explained by the theory. Remaining questions are addressed. [S0163-1829(99)04109-0].