RAMAN-MIE SCATTERING FROM SINGLE LASER TRAPPED MICRODROPLETS

By means of optical levitation by radiation pressure we studied elasti c (Mie) and inelastic (Raman) light scattering from single laser trapp ed microdroplets. From Raman data the chemical constitution of the dro plet can be obtained as a function of time whereas morphology dependen t resonances superimposed to the Raman background give precise informa tion on size and refractive index of the dielectric microsphere. Appli cations of this combined Raman and Mie scattering are given in terms o f droplet evaporation as well as of chemical reactions (e.g. acid/base reaction or droplet polymerization). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.