Calculation and measurement of the second light-scattering virial coefficient of (CH3)2O

Abstract

Measurements are reported of the depolarization ratio of (CH₃)₂O at vapour pressures up to 0.5 MPa, and the first and second light-scattering virial coefficients are extracted. The molecular-tensor theory of the second light-scattering virial coefficient B_ρ for nonlinear molecules is extended to include for the first time those contributions in the scattered intensity arising from field gradient effects and induced quadrupole moments in the molecular interactions. This new theory for B_ρ yields a calculated value for (CH₃)₂O which agrees with the experimental value to within 7%.