Quasielastic light-scattering measurements are performed on a suspension of spherical particles possessing an intrinsic optical anisotropy. From the correlation function of the depolarized scattered intensity, we derive both the translational and rotational self-diffusion coefficient as functions of the volume fraction. The experimental data show that the rotational diffusion of a sphere is influenced by hydrodynamic interactions, in qualitative agreement with recent calculations by Jones.

• Received 1 June 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.42.4885