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`!Diffusing-wave spectroscopy`! (`!DWS`!) is an optical technique derived from `F33f`_`[dynamic light scattering`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Dynamic_light_scattering]`_`f (DLS) that studies the dynamics of scattered light in the limit of strong multiple scattering.`:cite-ref-1[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-1]`_`f]`:cite-ref-2[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-2]`_`f] It has been widely used in the past to study colloidal `F33f`_`[suspensions`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Suspension_(chemistry)]`_`f, `F33f`_`[emulsions`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Emulsions]`_`f, `F33f`_`[foams`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Foams]`_`f, gels, biological media and other forms of `F33f`_`[soft matter`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Soft_matter]`_`f. If carefully calibrated, DWS allows the quantitative measurement of microscopic motion in a soft material, from which the `F33f`_`[rheological`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Rheological]`_`f properties of the complex medium can be extracted via the `F33f`_`[microrheology`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Microrheology]`_`f approach.

>>Contents

• `F0af`_`[One-speckle diffusing-wave spectroscopy`#one-speckle-diffusing-wave-spectroscopy]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Multispeckle diffusing-wave spectroscopy (MSDWS)`#multispeckle-diffusing-wave-spectroscopy-msdws]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[References`#references]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[External links`#external-links]`_`f

-─

>>One-speckle diffusing-wave spectroscopy

Laser light is sent to the sample and the outcoming transmitted or backscattered light is detected by an optoelectric sensor. The light intensity detected is the result of the interference of all the optical waves coming from the different light paths.

The signal is analysed by calculating the intensity `F33f`_`[autocorrelation`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Autocorrelation]`_`f function called g2. g 2 ( τ τ ) = ⟨ ⟨ I ( t ) I ( t + τ τ ) ⟩ ⟩ t ⟨ ⟨ I ( t ) ⟩ ⟩ t 2 {\\displaystyle g_{2}(\\tau )={\\frac {\\langle I(t)I(t+\\tau )\\rangle _{t}}{\\langle I(t)\\rangle _{t}^{2}}}}

For the case of non-interacting particles suspended in a (complex) fluid a direct relation between g2-1 and the `F33f`_`[mean squared displacement`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Mean_squared_displacement]`_`f of the particles <Δr2> can be established. Let us note P(s) the probability density function (PDF) of the photon path length s. The relation can be written as follows:`:cite-ref-3[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-3]`_`f]

g 2 ( τ τ ) − − 1 = [ ∫ ∫ d s P ( s ) exp ⁡ ⁡ ( − − ( s / l ∗ ∗ ) k 0 2 ⟨ ⟨ Δ Δ r 2 ( τ τ ) ⟩ ⟩ ) ] 2 {\\displaystyle g_{2}(\\tau )-1=[\\int {dsP(s)\\exp(-(s/l*)k_{0}^{2}\\langle \\Delta r^{2}(\\tau )\\rangle )}]^{2}}

with k 0 = 2 π π n λ λ {\\displaystyle k_{0}={\\frac {2\\pi n}{\\lambda }}} and l ∗ ∗ {\\displaystyle l*} is the transport mean free path of scattered light.

For simple cell geometries, it is thus possible to calculate the mean squared displacement of the particles <Δr2> from the measured g2-1 values analytically. For example, for the backscattering geometry, an infinitely thick cell, large laser spot illumination and detection of photons coming from the center of the spot, the relationship between g2-1 and <Δr2> is:

g 2 ( τ τ ) − − 1 = exp ⁡ ⁡ ( − − 2 γ γ ⟨ ⟨ Δ Δ r 2 ( τ τ ) ⟩ ⟩ k 0 2 ) {\\displaystyle g_{2}(\\tau )-1=\\exp \\left(-2\\gamma {\\sqrt {\\langle \\Delta r^{2}(\\tau )\\rangle k_{0}^{2}}}\\right)} , γ value is around 2.

For less thick cells and in transmission, the relationship depends also on l* (the transport length).`:cite-ref-4[`F5bf`_`[4`#cite-note-4]`_`f]

For quasi-transparent cells, an angle-independent variant method called cavity amplified scattering spectroscopy`:cite-ref-5[`F5bf`_`[5`#cite-note-5]`_`f] makes use of an `F33f`_`[integrating sphere`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Integrating_sphere]`_`f to isotropically probe samples from all directions, elongating photon paths through the sample in the process, allowing for the study of low turbidity samples under the DWS formalism.

>>Multispeckle diffusing-wave spectroscopy (MSDWS)

This technique either uses a camera to detect many speckle grains (see `F33f`_`[speckle pattern`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Speckle_pattern]`_`f) or a ground glass to create a large number of speckle realizations (Echo-DWS`:cite-ref-6[`F5bf`_`[6`#cite-note-6]`_`f]). In both cases an average over a large number of statistically independent intensity values is obtained, allowing a much faster data acquisition time.

g 2 ( τ τ ) = ⟨ ⟨ I ( t ) I ( t + τ τ ) ⟩ ⟩ p ⟨ ⟨ I ( t ) ⟩ ⟩ p 2 {\\displaystyle g_{2}(\\tau )={\\frac {\\langle I(t)I(t+\\tau )\\rangle _{p}}{\\langle I(t)\\rangle _{p}^{2}}}}

MSDWS is particularly adapted for the study of slow dynamics and non ergodic media. Echo-DWS allows seamless integration of MSDWS in a traditional DWS-scheme with superior `F33f`_`[temporal resolution`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Temporal_resolution]`_`f down to 12 ns.`:cite-ref-7[`F5bf`_`[7`#cite-note-7]`_`f] Camera based adaptive image processing allows online measurement of particle dynamics for example during drying.`:cite-ref-8[`F5bf`_`[8`#cite-note-8]`_`f]

>>References

`:cite-note-1`!1.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-1]`_`f `:citerefg-maretp-e-wolf1987`aG. Maret; P. E. Wolf (1987). "Multiple light scattering from disordered media. The effect of brownian motion of scatterers". `*`F33f`_`[Zeitschrift für Physik B`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Zeitschrift_für_Physik_B]`_`f`*. `!65`! (4): 409. `F33f`_`[Bibcode`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Bibcode_(identifier)]`_`f:1987ZPhyB..65..409M. `F33f`_`[doi`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Doi_(identifier)]`_`f:10.1007/BF01303762. `F33f`_`[S2CID`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=S2CID_(identifier)]`_`f 121962976.

`:cite-note-2`!2.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-2]`_`f `:citerefd-j-pined-a-weitzp-m-chaikine-herbolzheimer1988`aD. J. Pine; D. A. Weitz; P. M. Chaikin; E. Herbolzheimer (1988). "Diffusing wave spectroscopy". `*`F33f`_`[Physical Review Letters`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Physical_Review_Letters]`_`f`*. `!60`! (12): 1134–1137. `F33f`_`[Bibcode`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Bibcode_(identifier)]`_`f:1988PhRvL..60.1134P. `F33f`_`[doi`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Doi_(identifier)]`_`f:10.1103/PhysRevLett.60.1134. `F33f`_`[PMID`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=PMID_(identifier)]`_`f 10037950.

`:cite-note-3`!3.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-3]`_`f `:citereff-scheffold2004`a`F33f`_`[F. Scheffold`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Frank_Scheffold]`_`f; et al. (2004). "New trends in optical microrheology of complex fluids and gels" (PDF). `*Progress in Colloid and Polymer Science`*. `!123`!: 141–146. `F33f`_`[doi`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Doi_(identifier)]`_`f:10.1007/b11748. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 978-3-540-00553-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-21.

`:cite-note-4`!4.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-4]`_`f `:citerefd-a-weitzd-j-pine1993`aD. A. Weitz; D. J. Pine (1993). "Diffusing-wave spectroscopy". In W. Brown (ed.). `*Dynamic Light scattering`*. `F33f`_`[Clarendon Press`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Clarendon_Press]`_`f. pp. 652–720. `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 978-0-19-853942-1.

`:cite-note-5`!5.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-5]`_`f `:citerefgracianikingamblard2022`aGraciani, Guillaume; King, John T.; Amblard, François (2022-08-30). "Cavity-Amplified Scattering Spectroscopy Reveals the Dynamics of Proteins and Nanoparticles in Quasi-transparent and Miniature Samples". `*ACS Nano`*. `!16`! (10): 16796–16805. `F33f`_`[arXiv`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ArXiv_(identifier)]`_`f:2111.09616. `F33f`_`[doi`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Doi_(identifier)]`_`f:10.1021/acsnano.2c06471. `F33f`_`[ISSN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISSN_(identifier)]`_`f 1936-0851. `F33f`_`[PMID`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=PMID_(identifier)]`_`f 36039927. `F33f`_`[S2CID`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=S2CID_(identifier)]`_`f 244345602.

`:cite-note-6`!6.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-6]`_`f "Light scattering technique reveals properties of soft solids".

`:cite-note-7`!7.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-7]`_`f `:citerefp-zakharovf-cardinauxf-scheffold2006`aP. Zakharov; F. Cardinaux; F. Scheffold (2006). "Multispeckle diffusing-wave spectroscopy with a single-mode detection scheme". `*`F33f`_`[Physical Review E`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Physical_Review_E]`_`f`*. `!73`! (1): 011413. `F33f`_`[arXiv`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ArXiv_(identifier)]`_`f:cond-mat/0509637. `F33f`_`[Bibcode`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Bibcode_(identifier)]`_`f:2006PhRvE..73a1413Z. `F33f`_`[doi`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Doi_(identifier)]`_`f:10.1103/PhysRevE.73.011413. `F33f`_`[PMID`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=PMID_(identifier)]`_`f 16486146. `F33f`_`[S2CID`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=S2CID_(identifier)]`_`f 6251182.

`:cite-note-8`!8.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-8]`_`f `:citerefl-brunela-brunp-snabrel-cipelletti2007`aL. Brunel; A. Brun; P. Snabre; L. Cipelletti (2007). "Adaptive Speckle Imaging Interferometry: a new technique for the analysis of microstructure dynamics, drying processes and coating formation". `*`F33f`_`[Optics Express`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Optics_Express]`_`f`*. `!15`! (23): 15250–15259. `F33f`_`[arXiv`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ArXiv_(identifier)]`_`f:0711.1219. `F33f`_`[Bibcode`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Bibcode_(identifier)]`_`f:2007OExpr..1515250B. `F33f`_`[doi`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Doi_(identifier)]`_`f:10.1364/OE.15.015250. `F33f`_`[PMID`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=PMID_(identifier)]`_`f 19550809. `F33f`_`[S2CID`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=S2CID_(identifier)]`_`f 5753232.

>>External links

• Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy Overview with video

• Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy Overview with Animations Archived 2014-05-20 at the `F33f`_`[Wayback Machine`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Wayback_Machine]`_`f

• Particle Sizing using Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy Archived 2014-05-20 at the `F33f`_`[Wayback Machine`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Wayback_Machine]`_`f

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