Influence of low concentrations of scatterers and signal detection time on the results of their measurements using dynamic light scattering

The influence of limited detection time on the form of the autocorrelation function (ACF) has been analysed for measurements in low-concentration suspensions by dynamic light scattering with allowance for the spatial distribution of the laser beam intensity. The general view of the ACF of the scattered light intensity is obtained for a Gaussian beam and a finite measurement time. The results of the theoretical analysis are compared with the experimental data and the results obtained by computer simulation of the scattering from an ensemble of particles involved in Brownian motion in a Gaussian beam. It is shown that, in the case of low suspension concentrations, the ACF distortions related to finite detection time lead to underestimation of the particle sizes and occurrence of an artefact peak in the distribution of the scattered light intensity over scatterer sizes. An empirical dependence of the measured size of particles on their number in the scattering volume is found.