RAYLEIGH-GANS SCATTERING FROM POLYDISPERSE COLLOIDAL SUSPENSIONS

The scattering of polarized light from a collection of dielectric sphe res with model disorder in the particle dimensions is derived in the f irst Born approximation. The paper is intended as a brief pedagogical review of some of the essential physics behind static light scattering from complex fluids, and attempts to elucidate the natural emergence of the statistical-structure and form factors while emphasizing the ro le of polydispersity in the particle size, The criterion for the conve rgence of the Born series is examined. The problem is cast in the lang uage of Fourier transforms and correlation functions at a level that s hould be accessible to advanced undergraduates. (C) 1996 American Asso ciation of Physics Teachers.