Response Calculations for Forward Light Scattering Aerosol Particle Counters

Abstract

The response curves of the forward light scattering aerosol particle counter have been obtained with various optical geometries in both the hollow cone illumination type and the central dark stop collection type.
The response to be expected from spherical transparent particles have been calculated from Mie theory and Gucker-Hodkinson equation, taking into acount the spectrum characteristics of the light source and the phototube. And, the influence of the counter optical geometry on the counter performances, such as the sensitivity, the linearity and the dependency on the refractive index of the aerosol particle, has been discussed.
It has been pointed out that the forward light scattering counter might not be suitable to determine the aerosol particle size in submicron range.