Values for the bulk viscosity η(b) of molecular nitrogen gas (N2) were derived from spontaneous Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering at ultraviolet wavelengths (λ=366.8 nm) and at a 90° scattering angle. Analysis of the scattering profiles yields values showing a linear increasing trend, ranging from η(b)=0.7×10(-5) to 2.0×10(-5) kg·m(-1)·s(-1) in the temperature interval from 255 to 340 K. The present values, pertaining to hypersound acoustics at frequencies in the gigahertz domain, are found to be in agreement with results from acoustic attenuation experiments in N2 performed at megahertz frequencies.

Rayleigh-Brillouin (RB) scattering profiles for air have been recorded for the temperature range from 255 to 340 K and the pressure range from 640 to 3300 mbar, covering the conditions relevant for the Earth's atmosphere and for planned atmospheric light detection and ranging (LIDAR) missions. The measurements performed at a wavelength of λ=366.8 nm detect spontaneous RB scattering at a 90° scattering angle from a sensitive intracavity setup, delivering scattering profiles at a 1% rms noise level or better. The experimental results have been compared to a kinetic line-shape model, the acclaimed Tenti S6 model, considered to be most appropriate for such conditions, under the assumption that air can be treated as an effective single-component gas with temperature-scaled values for the relevant macroscopic transport coefficients. The elusive transport coefficient, the bulk viscosity η(b), is effectively derived by a comparing the measurements to the model, yielding an increased trend from 1.0 to 2.5×10(-5) kg·m(-1)·s(-1) for the temperature interval. The calculated (Tenti S6) line shapes are consistent with experimental data at the level of 2%, meeting the requirements for the future RB-scattering LIDAR missions in the Earth's atmosphere. However, the systematic 2% deviation may imply that the model has a limit to describe the finest details of RB scattering in air. Finally, it is demonstrated that the RB scattering data in combination with the Tenti S6 model can be used to retrieve the actual gas temperatures.

Spontaneous Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering experiments in air, N 2 and O 2 have been performed for a wide range of temperatures and pressures at a wavelength of 403 nm and at a 90 degrees scattering angle. Measurements of the Rayleigh-Brillouin spectral scattering profile were conducted at high signal-to-noise ratio for all three species, yielding high-quality spectra unambiguously showing the small differences between scattering in air, and its constituents N 2 and O 2 . Comparison of the experimental spectra with calculations using the Tenti S6 model, developed in 1970s based on linearized kinetic equations for molecular gases, demonstrates that this model is valid to high accuracy for N 2 and O 2 , as well as for air. After previous measurements performed at 366 nm, the Tenti S6 model is here verified for a second wavelength of 403 nm, and for the pressuretemperature parameter space covered in the present study (250 -340 K and 0.6 -3 bar). In the application of the Tenti S6 model, based on the transport coefficients of the gases, such as thermal conductivity κ, internal specific heat capacity c int and shear viscosity η as well as their temperature dependencies taken as inputs, values for the more elusive bulk viscosity η b for the gases are derived by optimizing the model to the measurements. It is verified that the bulk viscosity parameters obtained from previous experiments at 366 nm, are valid for wavelengths of 403 nm. Also for air, which is treated as a single-component gas with effective gas transport coefficients, the Tenti S6 treatment is validated for 403 nm as for the previously used wavelength of 366 nm, yielding an accurate model description of the scattering profiles for a range of temperatures and pressures, including those of relevance for atmospheric studies. It is concluded that the Tenti S6 model, further verified in the present study, is applicable to LIDAR applications for exploring the wind velocity and the temperature profile distributions of the Earth's atmosphere. Based on the present findings at 90• scattering and the determination of η b values predictions can be made on the spectral profiles for a typical LIDAR backscatter geometry. These Tenti S6 predictions for Rayleigh-Brillouin scattering deviate by some 7% from purely Gaussian profiles at realistic sub-atmospheric pressures occurring at 3-5 km altitude in the Earth's atmosphere.

In order to investigate the performance of two different algorithms for retrieving temperature from Rayleigh-Brillouin (RB) line shapes, RB scattering measurements have been performed in air at a wavelength of 403 nm, for a temperature range from 257 K to 330 K, and atmospherically relevant pressures from 871 hPa to 1013 hPa. One algorithm, based on the Tenti S6 line shape model, shows very good accordance with the reference temperature. In particular, the absolute difference is always less than 2 K. A linear correlation yields a slope of 1.01 ± 0.02 and thus clearly demonstrates the reliability of the retrieval procedure. The second algorithm, based on an analytical line shape model, shows larger discrepancies of up to 9.9 K and is thus not useful at its present stage. The possible reasons for these discrepancies and improvements of the analytical model are discussed. The obtained outcomes are additionally verified with previously performed RB measurements in air, at 366 nm, temperatures from 255 K to 338 K and pressures from 643 hPa to 826 hPa [Appl. Opt. 52, 4640 (2013)]. The presented results are of relevance for future lidar studies that might utilize RB scattering for retrieving atmospheric temperature profiles with high accuracy.

We present measurements of the polarized extinction of gold nanorod suspensions exposed to an external electric field. By employing an amplitude modulated field in combination with lock-in detection we resolve changes in the optical density as low as 10(-6) in an integration time of 10 s. This sensitivity allows us to probe the partial alignment of small gold nanorods with an aspect ratio of 2.5 and a width ranging from 13 nm to 28 nm. The degree of orientation scales as the square of the electric field strength, as expected for an induced dipole moment in an external field. By varying the modulation frequency we measure the rotation diffusion constant of different samples, which are in excellent agreement with the calculated values for a short cylinder.