Laser diffraction from capillary waves on liquid film surfaces

Abstract:

A simple experiment for laser diffraction of capillary waves on liquid film surface (LFS) is realized. Steady and visible diffraction patterns are obtained. The dispersion relation of capillary waves on LFS is verified by laser diffraction. In particular, both the relation between the wave number and the film thickness at a fixed angular frequency and the relation between the angular frequency and the wave number at a fixed film thickness are investigated. The theoretical and experimental results are in good agreement.