Abstract
Fabry-P\'erot spectroscopy was used to observe a spectral broadening of 1.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 MHz in laser light forward scattered through a colloidal solution. Light from a single-mode argon-ion laser was collected after scattering through water to which measured amounts of diatomaceous earth or 0.08-\ensuremath{\mu}m-diam polystyrene spheres were successively added. The broadening is attributed to coupling between fluctuations in particle concentration and spontaneous thermal fluctuations. Though spontaneous fluctuations exist in all pure fluids, they are very weak in water. However, the presence of the particles induces temperature gradients in the fluid, which in turn induce fluctuations in particle concentration.
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