Mueller matrix imaging of nematic textures in colloidal dispersions of Na-fluorohectorite synthetic clay

Morten Kildemo; Lars M. S. Aas; Pål G. Ellingsen; Henrik Hemmen; Elisabeth L. Hansen; Jon O. Fossum

doi:10.1117/12.889569

27 May 2011 Mueller matrix imaging of nematic textures in colloidal dispersions of Na-fluorohectorite synthetic clay

Morten Kildemo, Lars M. S. Aas, Pål G. Ellingsen, Henrik Hemmen, Elisabeth L. Hansen, Jon O. Fossum

Proceedings Volume 8082, Optical Measurement Systems for Industrial Inspection VII; 808221 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.889569
Event: SPIE Optical Metrology, 2011, Munich, Germany

Abstract

A Mueller Matrix Imaging Ellipsometer system is operated in transmission and used to study nematic textures in colloidal dispersions of synthetic Na-fluorohectorite clay platelets in solution. It is clearly observed that the anisometric particles organize into phases with strong birefringence, which results in a strong retardance. The Mueller matrix imaging technique supplies an image of the retardance matrix, even in the presence of other effects such as light scattering and diattenuation. The spatial variation of the absolute value of the retardance, the orientation of the fast axis of the retardance, the total diattenuation and the orientation of the diattenuation are presented. In particular, from knowledge of the anisotropic shape of the particles, the orientation of the particles within ordered domains, and the density of the particles within the domains are spatially determined. The experiments are based on adding synthetic clay particles into a solution contained in a thin rectangular glass container. Upon letting gravitation act on the sample, different phases appear after a few weeks. One phase contains nematic textures and we are able to determine the ordering and also estimate the density of the domains/texture within the phase, in addition to estimating the local order within a domain with an image resolution of 12 μm.

Citation Download Citation

Morten Kildemo, Lars M. S. Aas, Pål G. Ellingsen, Henrik Hemmen, Elisabeth L. Hansen, and Jon O. Fossum "Mueller matrix imaging of nematic textures in colloidal dispersions of Na-fluorohectorite synthetic clay", Proc. SPIE 8082, Optical Measurement Systems for Industrial Inspection VII, 808221 (27 May 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.889569

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available