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Monitoring the thinning dynamics of soap films by phase shift interferometry. The case of perfluoropolyether surfactants

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Abstract

An interferometric method to monitor the thinning process of vertical soap films from a water solution of surfactant materials is reported. Raw data maps of optical path difference introduced by the film are obtained by conventional phase shift interferometry. Off-line re-processing of such raw data taking into account the layered structure of soap films leads to an accurate measurement of the geometrical thickness. As an example of data acquisition and processing, the measuring chain is demonstrated on perfluoropolyether surfactants; the section profile of vertical films is monitored from drawing to black film state, and quantitative data on the dynamics of the thinning process are presented. The interferometric method proves effective to the task, and lends itself to further investigate the physical properties of soap films.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and CNISM, University of Florence, via G. Sansone 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy

    Cecilia M. C. Gambi & Giuseppe Molesini

  2. Albert-Einstein-Ring 19, European XFEL GmbH, 22767, Hamburg, Germany

    Maurizio Vannoni

  3. CNR-Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Largo E. Fermi 6, 50125, Florence, Italy

    Maurizio Vannoni & Andrea Sordini

Authors
  1. Cecilia M. C. Gambi
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  2. Maurizio Vannoni
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  3. Andrea Sordini
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  4. Giuseppe Molesini
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Correspondence to Maurizio Vannoni.

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Gambi, C.M.C., Vannoni, M., Sordini, A. et al. Monitoring the thinning dynamics of soap films by phase shift interferometry. The case of perfluoropolyether surfactants. Eur. Phys. J. E 37, 9 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2014-14009-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2014-14009-2

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