Optical properties of liquid mercury

Journal Article · Fri May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.23.5246· OSTI ID:6208778

Inagaki, T; Arakawa, E T; Williams, M W

Interest in the optical properties of liquid Hg has resulted in numerous studies over the past quarter of a century. Consistent differences have been observed between the optical properties of liquid Hg deduced from reflectance and from ellipsometric spectra, and several models have been proposed which have attempted to explain these differences by the introduction of an inhomogeneous and/or anisotropic surface region. However, a systematic analysis of the previously existing and new ellipsometric data for liquid Hg fails to demonstrate the existence of a surface transition zone having inhomogeneous and/or anisotropic properties. It is further shown that the contradiction between the optical constants obtained from ellipsometric and from reflectance measurements is not real and that the former are representative of liquid Hg while the latter contain large uncertainties because of insufficient sensitivity. The observed deviations of the optical constants of liquid Hg from ''Drude'' behavior still require theoretical explanation.

• Research Organization: Health and Safety Research Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6208778
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter; (United States) Vol. 23:10; ISSN PRBMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
ANISOTROPY
ELEMENTS
ELLIPSOMETRY
FLUIDS
LIQUIDS
MEASURING METHODS
MERCURY
METALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SPECTRA
SPECTRAL REFLECTANCE
SURFACES