Plasma-Resonance Scattering from Small Sodium Particles Formed in a Flowing Gas Stream

Abstract

We have observed plasma-resonance scattering of light from sodium particles of less than 100 Å diam produced in a flowing inert gas. The scattered light near resonance was at least 90% linearly polarized and had a nearly Lorentzian peak near 320 nm with a full width at half-maximum of 60 nm. Depending on experimental conditions, the observed plasma-resonance peak varied from 310 to 330 nm, with slightly varying widths. The wavelengths of the experimentally observed resonance were about 15% less than theoretically expected. A second maximum in scattered intensity was observed at 220 nm.