A new light scattering technique for a wide-band ripplon spectroscopy at the MHz region.

A new light scattering system was developed to investigate the propagation of liquid surface waves over a wide wave-number range 4×104–3×106 m-1 (or 10 kHz–6 MHz in frequency). Thermal fluctuation of liquid surface displacement excites a surface tension wave called a ‘‘ripplon’’ whose behavior yields information on the dynamics of the liquid surface. The transmission diffraction method and some optical and electrical improvements are successfully applied to the light scattering system and the upper limit of the frequency measured was extended about two orders higher than the conventional one. The wave-number dependence of the ripplon frequency and damping constant was measured for several kinds of liquids and the results agreed well with the classical hydrodynamic theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]