Particle-size-distribution measurement using a Hankel transform of a Fraunhofer diffraction spectrum

A new method for the measurement of the size distribution of circular particles by using a Fraunhofer diffraction pattern is proposed, which basically consists of performing the following two steps: (1) a Hankel transform of the radial spectral intensity that is diffracted from randomly distributed circular objects and (2) a calculation of a correlation between the Hankel-transformed function and a characteristic operator, such as a digital third-derivative operator. The method provides continuous size distribution of circular objects with high resolution.