Dynamical structure of water: Low-frequency Raman scattering from a disordered network and aggregates

Abstract

Low-frequency inelastic light scattering of water is observed from a temperature equal to 80 down to −20 °C in the supercooled regime. For energies higher than 3 cm−1 it is shown that the major part of the light scattering is Raman scattering. A broadband with a maximum at 50 cm−1 is interpreted as scattering from transverse acoustic modes of a disordered network. A weaker scattering which shifts towards the Rayleigh line when the temperature decreases is well explained by Raman scattering from the oscillations of water molecule aggregates which grow when the temperature decreases.