Multi-angle Light Scattering Device for Aerosol Particle Detection
Abstract
The goal of this work was to build a device to study light scattering by irregularly shaped particles and analyze that scattering from a unique perspective so that light scattering can be used to detect pathogenic and explosive aerosol materials, and discriminate between them and naturally occurring ambient particles in a real-time, field-implemented instrument. Such an instrument is a primary defense need. The major road block to the use of light scattering for nefarious aerosol detection and discrimination lies in the fact that the particles involved are usually irregularly shaped, and light scattering from such particles is not well understood. This proposal addressed this deficiency by constructing a multi-angle light scattering device to measure the scattering matrix of irregularly shaped particles. Unique features of the device are simultaneous multi-angle detection and detection from extreme forward (0.3 deg) to backward scattering angles (160 deg). We are currently measuring scattering from Arizona road dust, various sizes of abrasive grits and planning soot studies, some cloud processed. The project has applied our unique Q-space analysis method to find power functionalities. The device is at the center of a comprehensive program to study light scattering that will involve and train graduate, undergraduate and high school students.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA623078
Entities
People
- Christopher M. Sorensen
Organizations
- Kansas State University