Detection of Longitudinal Waves in Resonance with Capillary Waves at the Air-water Interface by Energy Transfer

Capillary (transverse) ripples are generated at a monolayer-covered air-water interface. Compression of the monolayer changes the surface dilatational modulus E and the reduced elasticity s/o. of the monolayer. When the reduced elasticity reaches a particular value, resonance between the capillary wave and the longitudinal wave should occur. Longitudinal waves (lateral oscillations, modulation of the average distances of the molecules) are detected by using energy transfer (Fiirster type) between dye molecules incorporated in the monolayer. Capillary ripples are detected by specular reflection of a laser beam from the water surface. The dependence of the longitudinal and the transverse wave characteristics on the area per molecule was investigated, and the resonance phenomenon was observed near the theoretical value of s/a for the resonance condition.