LIGHT-DIFFRACTION FROM SHEAR ORDERED COLLOIDAL DISPERSIONS

Light diffraction from shear ordered colloidal dispersions is discusse d in terms of the scattering power distribution I(I) along Bragg rods of hexagonal layers. For a charge stabilized dispersion the angle depe ndence of the light scattering intensity is used to determine I(l), fr om which conclusions on the mutual registration of the layers, the sta cking order, and the kinetics of crystallization can be drawn. For the system under study a structural transition from random close-packed h exagonal layers to faulted twinned fee is identified.