Gouy interference method

The first photograph of Gouy interference fringes was published by Longsworth (4) in 1945 in a symposium on diffusion, and this led to the development of the American version of the Gouy interference method, announced in 1947 (5,6). An independently developed British version, interrupted by World War II, was announced in 1948 (7). 

The present study is based on experimental arrangements (8) and improvements in theory (9,10) which utilize the entire fringe system according to the original American version (5,6). An excellent review is available (11) which covers the principles and practice of the Gouy interference method. Since this method has fallen into disuse since the time of that review, some background description pertinent to the present study will be presented. 

Several methods based on Pick s second law are available to measure the diffusion coefficient. Among these are the following three classical methods the Schlieren method, the Gouy interference method, and the Rayleigh interference method. We describe here the Rayleigh interference method, for its application is also found in ultracentrifuge sedimentation. We use the classical Tiselius electrophoresis cells to illustrate (Figure 10.5). 

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