Abstract

Surface light scattering provides a way to non-invasively measure surface tension and viscosity. It can also be used for non-contact temperature and surface tension gradient measurements at the surface of a fluid interface. The fluid interface can be either liquid-liquid or liquid-vapor and may include a monolayer. Conventional optical tables are sufficient for traditional surface light scattering work only if the environment is quiet. The effects of building vibration and sound noise from the environment can degrade the signal to noise ratio substantially unless the cell is carefully isolated. Even with cell isolation, low frequency driven waves, which we call slosh, are hard to suppress.

© 1996 Optical Society of America