Surface fluctuation spectroscopy - A novel technique for characterizing liquid interfaces

Surface fluctuation spectroscopy is a dynamic light scattering technique which involves the detection of thermal fluctuations (capillary waves) that cover every liquid interface. The advantages of this technique over conventional mechanical methods are discussed. The signal resolution and precision are improved by using a grating heterodyne technique coupled with a digital correlator. Detailed calculations showed that, for the measured power spectrum (the Fourier transform of the correlation function) to take the Lorentzian shape, it is necessary that certain optical conditions be met. These conditions are demonstrated with experimental data collected for ethanol at the ambient temperature as a function of the wave number. Once the optical parameters are adjusted correctly, the experimental results show excellent agreement with the literature values. It is also demonstrated that, using microcomputer technology, the entire system can be automated.