Small-angle light scattering from polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal films

A method is developed for modeling and computing the angular distribution of light scattered forward from a single-layer polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal (PDLC) film. The method is based on effective-medium approximation, anomalous diffraction approximation, and far-field single-scattering approximation. The angular distribution of forward-scattered light is analyzed for PDLC films with droplet size larger than the optical wavelength. The method can be used to study field-and temperature-induced phase transitions in LC droplets with cylindrical symmetry by measuring polarized scattered light intensity.     

Small-angle neutron scattering study of dynamically polarized polyethylenes

We carried out a small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) study of dynamically polarized polyethylene (PE) samples doped with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPO). The transmission of the PE with almost fully polarized neutrons (98.5%) increased with increasing the proton polarization, P. The incoherent scattering cross section decreased with increasing P. The effect of P on the polarized neutrons’ transmission and the incoherent scattering cross section agreed well with the theory. The q-dependence of the coherent scattering, which reflects a two-phase structure of PE composed of crystalline and amorphous domains, was kept unchanged by the proton polarization, but the intensity increased by a factor of 3 and 6 for P=+23% and −23%, respectively. The results mean that the contrast between the two phases was successfully enhanced by a dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) technique. However, the enhancement is only 1/13–1/16 of the enhancement calculated by assuming a homogeneous polarization through the PE sample. The discrepancy suggests that P in amorphous domains (25%) should be higher than that in crystalline domains (22%) by 3%, which in turn may suggest the partial depolarization of proton spins on the way of the spin diffusion from amorphous domains, where TEMPO radicals localize, to crystalline domains.     

Small-angle light scattering studies of dense AOT-water-decane microemulsions

Summary We have performed extensive studies of a three-component microemulsion system composed of AOT-water-decane (AOT=sodium-bis-ethylhexyl-sulfosuccinate is an ionic surfactant) using small-angle light scattering (SALS). The small-angle scattering intensities are measured in the angular interval 0.001–0.1 radians, corresponding to a Bragg wave number range of 0.14 μm⁻¹<Q<<1.4 μm⁻¹. The measurements were made by changing temperature and volume fraction ϕ of the dispersed phase (water + AOT) in the range 0.05<ϕ<0.75. All samples have a fixed water-to-AOT molar ratio,w=[water]/[AOT]=40.8, in order to keep the same average droplet size in the stable one-phase region. With the SALS technique, we have been able to observe all the phase boundaries of a very complex phase diagram with a percolation line and many structural organizations within it. We observe at the percolation transition threshold, a scaling behavior of the intensity data. This behavior is a consequence of a clustering among microemulsion droplets near the percolation threshold. In addition, we describe in detail a structural transition from a droplet microemulsion to a bicontinuous one as suggested by a recent small-angle neutron scattering experiment. The loci of this transition are located several degrees above the percolation temperatures and are coincident with the maxima previously observed in shear viscosity. From the data analysis, we show that both the percolation phenomenon and this novel structural transition are derived from a large-scale aggregation between microemulsion droplets.     

Nonlinear bending of molecular films by polarized light

A theory of photoinduced directed bending of non-crystalline molecular films is presented. Our approach is based on elastic deformation of the film due to interaction between molecules ordered through polarized light irradiation. The shape of illuminated film is obtained in the frame of the nonlinear elasticity theory. It is shown that the shape and the curvature of the film depend on the polarization and intensity of the light. The curvature of an irradiated film is a non-monotonic function of the extinction coefficient.     

The scattering of partially polarized light by oriented atoms

A compact expression is derived for the cross section of scattering of arbitrarily polarized light by oriented atomic systems, in which the dependence on the geometric parameters and on the Stokes parameters preassigning the state of partial polarization of incident radiation is explicitly separated. It is found that the cross section of any photoprocess accompanied by photon absorption (stimulated emission) contains the sum of the products of the circular and linear dichroisms of the process by the respective Stokes parameters. The effect of the atomic orientation and of the dissipation of light energy on the polarization singularities and angular distribution of scattered light is investigated. In particular, it is demonstrated that, in the case of an open dissipation channel, the angular distribution remains dependent on the atomic orientation even in the case of zero degree of circular polarization of scattered radiation.     

Small-angle neutron and dynamic light scattering study of gelatin coacervates

The state of intermolecular aggregates and that of folded gelatin molecules could be characterized by dynamic laser light and small-angle neutron scattering experiments, which implied spontaneous segregation of particle sizes preceding coacervation, which is a liquid-liquid phase transition phenomenon. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) data analysis revealed two particle sizes until precipitation was reached. The smaller particles having a diameter of ～50 nm (stable nanoparticles prepared by coacervation method) were detected in the supernatant, whereas the inter-molecular aggregates having a diameter of ～400 nm gave rise to coacervation. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments revealed that typical mesh size of the networks exist in polymer dense phase (coacervates) [1]. Analysis of the SANS structure factor showed the presence of two length scales associated with this system that were identified as the correlation length or mesh size, ξ = 10.6 Å of the network and the other is the size of inhomogeneities = 21.4 Å. Observations were discussed based on the results obtained from SANS experiments performed in 5% (w/v) gelatin solution at 60°C (ξ = 50 Å, ζ = 113 Å) and 5% (w/v) gel at 28°C (ξ = 47 Å, ζ = 115 Å) in aqueous phase [2] indicating smaller length scales in coacervate as compared to sol and gel.     

Second-order orientation effects in light scattering by polarized atoms

A compact expression is derived for the part of the cross section for light scattering by axisymmetrically polarized atomic systems proportional to the third-rank state multipole. The effect of the second-order orientation determined by this state multipole on the polarization and angular distribution of the scattered light is studied. The polarization of the incident light can be arbitrary and is specified by the Stokes parameters. A number of orientation effects in the scattering process are shown to be induced precisely by the second-order orientation. In particular, when nonpolarized light is scattered by an oriented atom, the scattering intensity in the perpendicular direction depends on the second-order orientation alone. The second-order orientation also preserves circular dichroism in the linear polarization of the forward-and back-scattered light.     

Small-angle light scattering symmetry breaking in polymer-dispersed liquid crystal films with inhomogeneous electrically controlled interface anchoring

We have described the method of analyzing and reporting on the results of calculation of the small-angle structure of radiation scattered by a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal film with electrically controlled interfacial anchoring. The method is based on the interference approximation of the wave scattering theory and the hard disk model. Scattering from an individual liquid crystal droplet has been described using the anomalous diffraction approximation extended to the case of droplets with uniform and nonuniform interface anchoring at the droplet–polymer boundary. The director field structure in an individual droplet is determined from the solution of the problem of minimizing the volume density of the free energy. The electrooptical effect of symmetry breaking in the angular distribution of scattered radiation has been analyzed. This effect means that the intensities of radiation scattered within angles +θ _s and–θ _s relative to the direction of illumination in the scattering plane can be different. The effect is of the interference origin and is associated with asymmetry of the phase shift of the wavefront of an incident wave from individual parts of the droplet, which appears due to asymmetry of the director field structure in the droplet, caused by nonuniform anchoring of liquid crystal molecules with the polymer on its surface. This effect is analyzed in the case of normal illumination of the film depending on the interfacial anchoring at the liquid crystal–polymer interface, the orientation of the optical axes of droplets, their concentration, sizes, anisometry, and polydispersity.     

Manifestation of the second-order alignment in light scattering by polarized atoms

An expression for the cross section of light scattering by axisymmetrically aligned atomic systems is derived in a compact form. The cross section under consideration is proportional to the state multipole of the fourth rank. The effect of the second-order alignment determined by the fourth-rank state multipole on the polarization and the angular distribution of scattered light is investigated. The polarization of incident light can be arbitrary and, in the general case, is specified by the Stokes parameters. In particular, it is demonstrated that the second-order alignment cannot induce circular polarization of scattered light and does not influence the dissipation-induced effects of circular dichroism associated with the first-order alignment but leads to a change in the angular distribution and the degree of linear polarization of the scattered light.     

Single layer homogeneous model for surface roughness by polarized light scattering

In this paper a homogeneous single layer model for surface roughness by polarized light has been developed. It has been shown that the reflectance change in non-absorbing layer is directly proportional to the refractive index of the ambient and substrate media for s polarization but inversely proportional to the p polarization and it is directly proportional to the square of the thickness of the layer for both the polarization. In an absorbing layer, it has been shown that the thickness of the layer is equal to the twice of surface roughness of the single layer identical system for s polarization but it is ratio of twice of surface roughness to the square of refractive index of thin film for p polarization. The extinction coefficient of the layer is directly proportional to the thickness of that layer for both the polarization. The consequence of the scattered light on the specular reflectance and transmittance for oblique incidence shows that there is reduction in reflectance (in both non-absorbing and absorbing cases) and transmittance (in the absorbing case for p polarization only), due to roughness on the surface under the Drude effective-medium approximation. Thus such an absorbing layer provides a valid model for the effect of scatter on the transmittance for p polarization only.     

Small-angle scattering of X-rays by electron-irradiated copper

Small-angle scattering of annealed electron-irradiated copper shows that isolated monovacancies persist through recovery stage III. The scattering appearing at small angles after annealing between 260 K and 300 K can be accounted for by the condensation of self-interstitials to form small dislocation loops.     

Multiple scattering of polarized light in a turbid medium

It is shown that multiple scattering of polarized light in a turbid medium can be represented as independent propagation of three basic modes: intensity and linearly and circularly polarized modes. Weak interaction between the basic modes can be described by perturbation theory and gives rise to “overtones” (additional polarization modes). Transport equations for the basic and additional modes are derived from a vector radiative transfer equation. Analytical solutions to these equations are found in the practically important cases of diffusive light propagation and small-angle multiple scattering. The results obtained are in good agreement with experimental and numerical results and provide an explanation for the experimentally observed difference in depolarization between linearly and circularly polarized waves.     

Coherent effects in multiple scattering of linearly polarized light

Comparing the stochastic Monte Carlo technique with the iteration procedure for solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation in the framework of numerical simulation, the time correlation function and the interference component of the coherent backscattering of a linearly polarized light wave in a multiply scattering medium are calculated. The results of the simulation agree well with theoretical results obtained by generalizing the Milne solution, as well as with experimental data.     

两种按比例混合颗粒系的多次散射模拟

一种颗粒与其他种类的颗粒混合后, 会使其散射特性发生变化, 本文研究了水云中混有黑炭气溶胶后的散射特性变化. 根据Mie理论计算了水云和黑炭气溶胶散射相函数、单次散射反照率和不对称因子. 给出了混合颗粒系的蒙特卡罗模拟方法, 给出了颗粒碰撞类型抽样、自由程抽样和根据Mie相函数进行散射方向抽样的方法. 计算了光垂直入射时, 水云和黑炭气溶胶混合颗粒系的反射光强随观测角的变化, 并计算了平面反照率随入射角的变化, 讨论了黑炭气溶胶的有效半径、混合比例对整个混合颗粒系散射特性的影响. 计算结果表明, 水云中混合黑炭会加强其吸收, 且黑炭的比例和尺寸不同其散射特性差异较大.     

Small-angle x-ray scattering and inhomogeneities of the electron density in polycrystalline and epitaxial PbS films

The dependence of the characteristics of the macro- and microporosity on the condensation temperature has been studied for condensation temperatures from 30 to 450°C by small-angle x-ray scattering, hydrostatic weighing, and low-temperature desorption of argon in polycrystalline and single-crystal lead sulfide films with thickness 3–5 m condensed for normal incidence of the molecular beam on polycrystalline and single-crystal substrates. The porosity of the polycrystalline films is an order of magnitude greater than in the epitaxial films. In polycrystalline condensates, the pores are elongated and are oriented along the normal to the film. The pores in the epitaxial films have a platelet form with faces along the {100} planes and are parallel to the direction of growth of the condensate. At high substrate temperature (about 400°C), more nearly equiaxial pores, with additional {110} faces are formed, as a result of the plastic deformation of the condensate by thermal macrostresses.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 8, pp. 46–52, August, 1979.     

偏振光大气传输的前向散射新模型

建立了偏振光空间传输前向散射的物理模型。对各向同性散射介质,在非相干性假设条件下,导出了偏振光双散射和多散射前向散射的有效Mueller矩阵,给出了偏振光Mie散射前向有效Mueller矩阵各矩阵元之间的对称性关系,即Mueller矩阵的16个矩阵元中只有7个是独立的,其他9个矩阵元通过组合及一定角度的旋转即可得到。利用Monte Carol方法模拟了偏振光在空间传输10km的前向散射的有效Mueller矩阵,模拟结果表明各矩阵元存在一定的对称性关系,与基于本模型导出的偏振光前向散射的有效Mueller矩阵元具有较好的一致性。     

Temperature dynamics of polarized and depolarized light scattering in a critical mixture

The results of Rayleigh line wing width, Landau-Placzek ratio and hypersound velocity temperature dependence at approaching the critical temperature of the exfoliating mixture of n-hexadecane-β, β'-dichlordiethyl ether are given.