Gaussian and non-Gaussian speckle fluctuations in the diffusing-wave spectroscopy signal of a coarsening foam
arXiv:cond-mat/0511669 · doi:10.1364/AO.45.002199
Abstract
All prior applications of Diffusing-Wave Spectroscopy (DWS) to aqueous foams rely upon the assumption that the electric field of the detected light is a Gaussian random variable and that, hence, the Siegert relation applies. Here we test this crucial assumption by simultaneous measurement of both second and third-order temporal intensity correlations. We find that the electric field is Gaussian for typical experimental geometries equivalent to illumination and detection with a plane wave, both for backscattering and transmission through an optically-thick slab. However, we find that the Gaussian character breaks down for point-in / point-out backscattering geometries in which the illumination spot size is not sufficiently large in comparison with the size of the intermittent rearrangement events.
experiment, available at http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=ao-45-10-2199