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Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Measuring Spatially- and Directionally-varying Light Scattering from Biological Material
Published on: May 20, 2013
Determination of the Rayleigh Ratio with an Uncertainty Analysis by Static Light-Scattering Measurements of Certified
Kayori Takahashi1, Atsushi Takano2, Shinichi Kinugasa1
1National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).
Abstract:
The most important parameter for light-scattering measurements in the Rayleigh scattering region is the Rayleigh ratio, which is necessary to obtain the absolute scattered light intensity from the relative scattered light intensity. The absolute scattered light intensity is directly related to the molar masses of polymers, colloids, biomolecules, and the like. A new Rayleigh ratio was determined by measuring static light scattering from certified reference materials with highly accurate certified values of the molecular weight determined by several other techniques, such as MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry or size-exclusion chromatography. The new Rayleigh ratio can be used for evaluating the uncertainty of the molecular weight of polymers and macromolecules, as measured by light scattering.
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