Multiple light scattering from a moving layer of Brownian particles: comparison with a rigid phase screen

Abstract

The temporal fluctuations in the intensity of light scattered by a moving layer of emulsions and suspensions containing Brownian particles are investigated experimentally, and a comparison is made with light scattered by a translating phase screen. The intensity fluctuations of the scattered light are detected through an imaging system, which collects the light emanating only from a limited volume in the medium. The effect of translational motion of the particle layer on the decay rate of the autocorrelation function of intensity fluctuations depends on the illuminating form of a laser beam and on the point spread function of the imaging system. The Brownian motion of the particles causes the scattered light to fluctuate more rapidly than that arising from the translating phase screen. In the multiple-scattering regime, the influence of this diffusional motion increases with an increase of the particle concentration in the layer.