ON THE DIFFICULTY OF ATTRIBUTING A FRACTAL SIGNATURE TO LOW-FREQUENCY RAMAN-SPECTRA OF POLYMERS IN SOLUTION

Measurements of the low-frequency Raman spectra (LFRS) (below 100 cm-1) of poly(methyl methacrylates) in solution are reported. The reduced intensity exhibits a power law dependence on the frequency at any concentration and at any conversion rate of the polymerization reaction. Even monomeric liquids such as toluene and methyl methacrylate show such a power law behaviour. The results are compared with recent theories on low-frequency Raman scattering from fractal structures and suggest that a more careful interpretation of LFRS is needed.