High-resolution ellipsometric studies on fluid interfaces

In this article, highly accurate experimental results reveal the interfacial profile between different macroscopic fluid phases. The deviation from a step profile, quantified by the ellipsometric quantity J(1), shows a strong correlation with the cohesive energy quantified by the Gordon parameter G . Surprisingly, at high values of G , J (1)( < 0) deviates significantly from any predictions. Findings for water and water-like interfaces can be interpreted in terms of the strength of hydrogen bonding at the surface.