The spectrum of vibration modes in soft opals

J Chem Phys. 2005 Sep 22;123(12):121104. doi: 10.1063/1.2046607.

Abstract

Numerous vibrational modes of spherical submicrometer particles in fabricated soft opals are experimentally detected by Brillouin light scattering and theoretically identified by their spherical harmonics by means of single-phonon scattering-cross-section calculations. The particle size polydispersity is reflected in the line shape of the low-frequency modes, whereas lattice vibrations are probably responsible for the observed overdamped transverse mode.