OPTICAL INTERFEROMETRIC STUDIES OF A CONFINED LIQUID FREE-SURFACE - MENISCUS-EFFECT COMPENSATION AND TIME EVOLUTION OF THE SURFACE

A fruitful approach to the studies of a liquid free surface is demonst rated. Using optical interferential techniques, the free surface of no nvolatile and volatile confined liquids is analyzed. Various wall cont ainer types are investigated. Besides the classical plane wall, experi ments are performed by using cylindrical and toroidal walls, In these last cases, the meniscus effect that affects the free surface of the l iquid is compensated. Then, it is possible to obtain completely flat f ree surfaces of liquids up to 80% of their total. Interferometric expe riments are also described to measure the inclination of the site with respect to the local horizon, represented by the liquid flat free sur face, and to follow the temporal evolution of such free surfaces affec ted by different conditions.