Abstract
The boundary‐value problem describing stimulated Raman scattering induced by a plane coherent electromagnetic wave normally incident upon plasma with a monotonic density profile is solved on a global basis. Propagation of amplified electrostatic waves between the resonant backward‐ and forward‐scattering points and reflection of forward‐scattered electromagnetic waves into the resonant backward‐scattering region result in an absolute instability. The threshold, growth rate and line spacing for this instability are derived.