Low-frequency eigenvibrations of hollow carbon microspheres

Monodisperse hollow carbon microspheres have been fabricated using silica spheres as templates via a three-step chemical vapor deposition method. The vibrational eigenmodes of these hollow carbon microspheres have been measured by Brillouin light scattering. The frequencies of the eigenvibrations of a free surface hollow carbon sphere are also calculated within the framework of the elasticity theory. A comparison of the theoretical and measured frequencies shows that the observed Brillouin peaks are due to the spheroidal modes of the hollow spheres.