In 1892 Drude and Nernst reported the first observation of a standing light wave by using a fluorescent thin film, which is a real-time version of Wiener’s first experiment on standing light wave. We reproduce the experiment by Drude and Nernst with improved efficiency using modern laser technology and a highly fluorescent π-conjugated polymer. We also used a glass plate scratched slightly on one surface to visualize the same phenomenon using diffuse reflection instead of fluorescence. This method has the advantage of being a wavelength-independent observation compared to the fluorescence method.

Topics
Electromagnetism, DC motors, Glass, Emulsions, Thin films, Diffraction optics, Interferometry, Optical coatings, Optical interference, Educational aids
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2009
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