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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Measurement of Particle Size Distribution in Turbid Solutions by Dynamic Light Scattering Microscopy
Published on: January 9, 2017
Microscope spectrometer for light scattering investigations.
Aude Barbara1, Tomas Lopez-Rios, Sylvain Dumont
1Institut Néel, CNRS and University Joseph Fourier, BP 166, 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9, France. aude.barbara@grenoble.cnrs.fr
This study introduces a microscope setup for analyzing micrometric particles and colloidal solutions using static and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The system reveals particle number fluctuations in diluted solutions, contributing to scattered light intensity analysis.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Materials Science
- Chemistry
Background:
- Studying microscopic particles and colloidal solutions is crucial in various scientific fields.
- Traditional methods may have limitations in analyzing small volumes and concentrated solutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel microscope setup for studying small volumes (a few mum^3) using light scattering techniques.
- To analyze individual micrometric particles and colloidal solutions across different concentrations.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a microscope integrated with static and dynamic light scattering (DLS) in a backscattering configuration.
- Analyzing scattered light in the 400-800 nm spectral range.
- Performing DLS measurements on both diluted and concentrated colloidal solutions.
Main Results:
- The setup successfully analyzes light scattered by individual micrometric particles.
- Evidence of particle number fluctuations within a confocal volume was observed in diluted solutions.
- The contribution of these fluctuations to the autocorrelation function of scattered intensity was investigated.
Conclusions:
- The described setup is effective for characterizing micrometric objects and colloidal systems.
- The findings highlight the importance of particle number fluctuations in DLS analysis of diluted solutions.
- This technique offers a versatile tool for studying particle dynamics and interactions.
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