In situ interferometry was used to investigate the gelation process of polyacrylic acid (PAA) gels. The basicprinciple of the in situ interferometry technique is illustrated. It can give sufficient information for non-destructive andsuccessful investigation of the whole gelation process. The effect of initiator concentration on the gelation process wasstudied. The polymerization rate of AA increases with increasing initiator concentration. The error arising from the thermal effect in the gelation process can be neglected.