Sizing fine particles with the phase Doppler interferometric technique

A theoretical model based on the Lorenz-Mie theory was used to study the response characteristics of the Aerometrics phase Doppler particle analyzer (PDPA). The validity of the model was verified experimentally, and its suitability for calculating measurement uncertainties was established. The theoretical and experimental results suggest that size resolutions of the order of +/-0.3 microm are possible when the PDPA is used to measure small spherical particles (< 10 microm). We show that the optical configuration of the PDPA plays an important role in establishing the sizing uncertainty of the instrument.