Abstract

In this work, the statistical properties of the frequency distribution curves and the autocorrelation functions of the scattered photons from a laser beam incident on a liquid mixture approaching its phase separation temperature under an applied magnetic field in a dynamic light scattering experiment were employed in the study of the physical behavior of the scattering centers within the samples and in the calculations of their associated diffusion coefficients, respectively. It was found that while approaching the phase separation temperature, cluster formation of molecules of the same species occurred within the mixtures. Increasing the magnetic field strength resulted in enhancement of the effect. Our sample liquid mixtures exhibited phase separation behaviour when an applied magnetic field is strong enough.

Key words: Dynamic light scattering, photon correlation, density fluctuations, critical point.