  A theory for electronic Raman scattering in the cuprate superconductors is
presented with a specific emphasis on the polarization dependence of the
spectra which can infer the symmetry of the energy gap. Signatures of the
effects of disorder on the low frequency and low temperature behavior of the
Raman spectra for different symmetry channels provide detailed information
about the magnitude and the phase of the energy gap. Properties of the theory
for finite T are discussed and compared to recent data concerning the doping
dependence of the Raman spectra in cuprate superconductors, and remaining
questions are addressed.
