Dynamic Light Scattering Measurements of Single Particle Motions in Hard-Sphere Suspensions near the Glass Transition

摘要

Dynamic light scattering measurements are reported for supsensions at concentrations around the glass transition. Self intermediate scattering functions are obtained by employing a mixture of identically interacting but optically contrasting polymer and silica particles and adjusting the refractive index of the suspending liquid until scattering from the structure is eliminated. A small spread in particle radii retards nucleation and crystal growth to an extent that allows characterization of (density) quenched metastable fluid states. The non-equilibrium nature of the glass state in evidenced by the dependence of the intermediate scattering functions on the waiting time.