OPTICAL IMAGING OF INHOMOGENEOUS MAGNETIC-FIELDS THROUGH THE DEFORMATION OF PARAMAGNETIC LIQUID-FILMS

A new quantitative method for optical imaging of inhomogeneous weak ma gnetic fields has been developed, using a thin paramagnetic liquid fil m on a surface in the region of the magnetic field. The deformation of the paramagnetic liquid film reveals the magnetic field distribution. The measurements were made interferometrically using a version of the Michelson interferometer through which an image could be observed. Th e expected theoretical behavior was developed, and the method was inve stigated experimentally using two different liquids in two temperature regions. (C) 1995 Optical Society of America