Disclosed are system and method for characterizing a system consisting of a fluid sample on a two sided stage, utilizing data obtained by applying, from both sides thereof, beams of electromagnetic radiation to a fluid coated surface in a containing cell volume. The beams can have the same or different wavelength content and/or polarization state, and can be applied at the same or different magnitude angles-of-incidence, and a third typically unpolarized beam can be applied at a normal angle-of-incidence.