On Basic Requirements to Main Elements of Laser Correlation Spectrometer

Abstract

Introduction. Laser correlation spectroscopy is a promising method that allows one to analyze sizes of nanoparticles and to evaluate their shape and dynamics of aggregation in liquids. A limited usage of laser correlation spectroscopy is currently caused by insufficient accuracy of existing instruments and data processing algorithms. The paper described the development of laser correlation spectroscopic hardware complex designed for nanoparticles size determination in liquids. The basic requirements for the elements of the device and the approaches used to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio were discussed. The achieved parameters of the laser correlation spectrometer were presented.Aim. To develop the hardware for nanoparticles size determination in liquids and to optimize the parameters of hardware elements to increase signal-to-noise ratio.Materials and methods. Theory of dynamic light scattering to describe scattering of laser radiation in liquids was applied. Fundamental requirements for the elements of the laser correlation spectrometer were described.Results. An original scheme of the laser correlation spectrometer was developed, the basic requirements for the general scheme elements were described. Equations for calculating signal-to-noise ratio were given.Conclusion. The analysis of the main parameters of the elements of the laser correlation spectroscopic scheme were carried out. It helps one to evaluate the expected signal-to-noise ratio in laser correlation spectrometers.

Keywords

• динамическое рассеяние света
• лазерная корреляционная спектроскопия
• отношение сигнал/шум
• спектральные характеристики лазера
• шумы фотоэлектронного умножителя