CONNECTION BETWEEN INTEGRATED-INTENSITIES OF DEPOLARIZED-LIGHT-SCATTERING SPECTRA AND MESOSCOPIC ORDER IN LIQUIDS

We have examined the temperature dependence of the integrated intensit y of the broad spectral contribution to the depolarized light scattere d from liquids in four different experiments analyzed by four differen t approaches. Although the quantitative results depend upon the method of analysis, in all cases the integrated intensity, which is an equil ibrium property, diminishes rapidly with decreasing temperature. This rapid decrease can be understood if the broad spectral line is associa ted with dipole-induced dipole interactions, which are known to exhibi t a cancellation effect and which, in turn, are dependent upon the str ucture of and degree of order in the liquid. Therefore the integrated intensity of the broad spectral line may be an experimentally determin ed indicator of the degree of order in liquids and supercooled liquids .