Faculty Publications

A Miniature Laser Interferometer For Noninvasive Viscometry

Document Type

Conference

Keywords

Capillary waves, Interferometer, Laser, Viscosity

Journal/Book/Conference Title

2003 Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show - Nanotech 2003

Volume

1

First Page

166

Last Page

169

Abstract

A miniature laser interferometer consisting entirely of an optical fiber held in close proximity to a fluid surface is described. The total path difference in this interferometer is less than a millimeter. The interferometer may be used to measure, for example, the amplitude of submicron capillary waves on fluids with a resolution of about 10 nm. In one application the interferometer is used to measure, noninvasively, the amplitude decay of capillary waves as a function of the distance from the wave generator. The amplitude decay data yields the viscosity of the fluid with unprecedented precision. As a test case, the viscosity of pure water as a function of temperature, measured by this system, will be presented.

Department

Department of Physics

Original Publication Date

12-1-2003

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