Depolarization of the Components of Rayleigh Scattering in Liquids*

Abstract

The depolarization ratios have been determined in eight liquids by employing a He-Ne laser as a source and Fabry-Perot interferometer techniques. Individual depolarization ratios were obtained for the separate Rayleigh components scattered at 90°. In most cases the Brillouin components were strongly polarized; the observed depolarization was predominantly due to the depolarized background. The temperature dependence of the Rayleigh component gives some evidence for the presence of ordering in some liquids.