Dynamics of microemulsions as seen by neutron spin echo

Abstract

Neutron spin echo (NSE) was employed to study the dynamics of a variety of microemulsion phases. Starting from the droplet phase, we present very recent results on the lamellar and sponge (L3) phases. Combining the well-known contrast-variation method of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) with the unique energy resolution of NSE we can separate motions which are otherwise undetectable. Combining the static and dynamical experiments, microscopic parameters like the bending rigidity ( K) could be deduced. We find, for example, that the local dissipation is 4–6 times higher than would be predicted from the solvent viscosities.