Light scattering from a nucleating surface : Part II

It is shown both theoretically and experimentally that light scattering by a homodisperse system of spheres on a metallic substrate gives rise to interference phenomena. If the spheres are growing, e.g. electrolytically, the light scattered in a certain direction varies with time in an oscillatory way. Perfect agreement between theory and experiment is obtained for mercury droplets growing electrolytically on a platinum substrate. Experimental results obtained at various scattering angles are reported, both for parallel and normally polarized light, incident perpendicularly to the substrate. From the oscillating light intensity pattern the size of the spheres can be determined as a function of time directly, without the use of a theory on electrodeposition. Peculiarly, this type of interference also occurs with non-coherent light.