Light scattering as a probe of liquid surfaces and interfaces

The field of quasi-elastic light scattering from thermally excited capillary waves at liquid surfaces is reviewed, with particular attention to scientific advances since 1992. These include surface-induced freezing in molecular fluids, the cross-over from capillary to elastic Rayleigh waves on the surfaces of gelling polymer solutions, the experimental demonstration of mixing of capillary and dilatational surface modes and the observation of effects due to processes tending to reduce the stability of the dilatational waves on surfactant solutions. The potential of this technique for surface and interface science is discussed.