Fiber-optic sensor for the estimation of microbial corrosion of metals

This paper presents an optical approach to estimate the degree of corrosion of metals by measuring the changes in surface texture. The principle behind this method is based on scattering of light by objects. Source fiber is used to focus the light on the biocorroded metal surface. The resultant scattered and reflected light intensities are measured individually using detector fibers placed at different angles. The degree of corrosion is estimated as a ratio of scattered and reflected light intensities of specimen surface in a relative scale from 0 to 100. The observed optical measurements correlate well with the measured corrosion rate (correlation coefficient (R²)=0.972). A consistent relationship is found between optical measurements and corrosion levels.     

Electrooptical properties of aqueous suspensions of nickel hydrosilicate nanotubes

We present the results of our investigations of electrooptical effects that occur as a result of light scattering by an aqueous polydisperse system the disperse phase of which consists of nickel hydrosilicate nanotubes with a chrysotile structure. Multilayer nanotubes were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and had the composition Ni₃Si₂O₅. The dimensions of nanotubes were as follows: the length was 0.1–1 μm or more, the outer diameter was 10–15 nm, and the inner diameter was 3 nm. We have studied relative changes in the intensities of light transmitted and scattered by the suspension that were caused by the orientation of nanotubes in an external electric field. Experiments have been performed at different directions of the linear polarization of the incident and scattered light, different scattering angles, and different degrees of orientation of nanotubes along the field. These measurements allowed us to determine the magnitude of electrooptical effects, such as the conservative dichroism, the light scattering, and the influence of the orientation of nanotubes in the field on the intensity and degree of depolarization of light scattered by them. Curves of free relaxation of electrooptical effects and their field dependences allowed us to determine the distributions of nanotubes and their aggregates in the colloid over lengths and polarizability anisotropy values. The dependences of the degree of depolarization of the scattered radiation on the scattering angle and the relaxation dependences of electrooptical effects allowed us to characterize the aggregation stability of nanotubes in water.     

Measurements of Silica Aggregate Particle Growth Using Light Scattering and Thermophoretic Sampling in a Coflow Diffusion Flame

The evolution of silica aggregate particles in a coflow diffusion flame has been studied experimentally using light scattering and thermophoretic sampling techniques. An attempt has been made to calculate the aggregate number density and volume fraction using the measurements of scattering cross section from 90° light scattering with combination of measuring the particle size and morphology from the localized sampling and a TEM image analysis. Aggregate or particle number densities and volume fractions were calculated using Rayleigh–Debye–Gans and Mie theory for fractal aggregates and spherical particles, respectively. Using this technique, the effects of H₂ flow rates on the evolution of silica aggregate particles have been studied in a coflow diffusion flame burner. As the flow rate of H₂ increases, the primary particle diameters of silica aggregates have been first decreased, but, further increase of H₂ flow rate causes the diameter of primary particles to increase and for sufficiently larger flow rates, the fractal aggregates finally become spherical particles. For the cases of high flame temperatures, the particle sizes become larger and the number densities decrease by coagulation as the particles move up within the flame. For cases of low flame temperatures, the primary particle diameters of aggregates vary a little following the centerline of burner and for the case of the lowest flame temperature in the present experiments, the sizes of primary particles even decrease as particles move upward.     

Optimization of measurement angles for soot aggregate sizing by elastic light scattering,through design-of-experiment theory

In multiangle elastic light scattering (MAELS) experiments, the morphology of aerosolized particles is inferred by shining collimated radiation through the aerosol and then measuring the scattered light intensity over a set of angles. In the case of soot-laden-aerosols MAELS can, in principle, be used to recover the size distribution of soot aggregates, although this involves solving an ill-posed inverse problem. This paper presents a design-of-experiment methodology for identifying the set of angles that maximizes the information content of the angular scattering measurements, thereby minimizing the ill-posedness of the underlying inverse problem. While the optimized angles highlight the physical significance of the scattering regimes, they do not improve the accuracy of size distributions reconstructed from simulated experimental data.     

Static laser light scattering (SLLS) investigations of the scattering parameters of a synthetic polymer

A laser light scattering system was built to study the scattering parameters of some materials in solution form. The light source used was an argon-ion laser at wavelength 488 nm (all lines). The investigated material was a synthetic polymer which has a wide range of applications in the field of teeth medicine applications. This is polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) which is used for the formation of artificial clamps. The PMMA was solved in both acetone and methyl-ethyl-ketone (MEK). The acetone solvent is chosen for its high specific refractive index increment dn/dc at the same wavelength 488 nm as the argon laser source. The angular distribution of the scattered laser light intensities of PMMA dissolved in acetone was measured at different scattering angles from 30 to 150° for each concentration. The angular distributions have a symmetrical behavior about the scattering angle π/2; by using the scattered intensities the Zimm plot was formed. The weight average molecular weight (WAMW) was determined, the two other scattering parameters like as radius of gyration, h, and the second verial coefficient, A₂ were determined.     

Feasibility of an optical experimental method for the sizing of primary spherules in sub-micron agglomerates by polarized light scattering

The possibility of inferring by a non-invasive experimental method the size of primary particles (spherules), which constitute the agglomerated soot generated in an ethylene–air diffusion flame, is investigated. In contrast to the predictions from the Mie theory for isolated spheres, experimental evidence is provided here about the fact that the size of spherules (some tens of nanometers), which stick together to form agglomerates (some hundreds of nanometers), can be recognized from polarization ratio measurements. Validation of the proposed scattering technique is obtained by first performing standard measurements of the primary particle size by SEM analysis of soot samples taken on quartz inserted directly in the flame along the burner axis. Then, the polarization ratio P(θ)≡σ_HH/σ_VV of scattered light is measured at the same locations and for the same flame conditions for different polar scattering angles θ. As major result, evidence is provided of a linear relationship existing between the primary sizes, obtained independently by SEM analysis, and the measurements of the polarization ratio P(90°). Finally, a procedure is reported and applied to retrieve the absolute spherule size from the direct observation of the transition between the power-law and Porod’s scattering regimes, which correspond to the domains of long-range (fractal) and short-range (not fractal) interactions between primary particles, respectively. Received: 24 February 1999 / Final version: 6 December 1999 / Published online: 1 March 2000     

Measurement of Aggregate Fractal Dimensions Using Static Light Scattering

Aggregates formed from colloidal particles will vary in shape according to the aggregation regime prevalent. Compact structures are formed when the aggregation is slow, whilst loose tenuous structures are formed when rapid (or diffusion limited) aggregation prevails. These structures can be fractal in nature, that is, there is a relationship between porosity and the number of primary particles making up the aggregate, and is described by the fractal dimension, d_F. Fractal dimensions of hematite aggregates have been measured experimentally using the static light scattering technique. Fractal dimensions varied with aggregation regimes; for the rapid aggregation regime, d_F was found to be 2.8, whilst for conditions in which aggregation was slow (retardation forces prevail), d_F's of 2.3 were measured. For conditions which lead to aggregation in which both diffusion and retardation forces play a part, structures with fractal dimensions such that 2.3 < d_F < 2.8 were found. The effects of adsorbed fulvic acid, a naturally occuring organic acid, on the kinetics of hematite aggregation and on the resulting structure of hematite aggregates were also investigated. The study of aggregate structure shows that the fractal dimensions of hematite aggregates which are partially coated with fulvic acid molecules are higher than those obtained with no adsorbed fulvic acid. The scattering exponents obtained from static light scattering experiments of these aggregates range from 2.83 ± 0.08 to 3.42 ± 0.1. The scattering exponents of greater than 3 indicate that the scattering is the result of objects that contains pores which are bounded by surfaces with a fractal structure, and can be related only to surface fractal dimension. The high fractal dimensions are due to restructuring within the aggregates, which only occured at low coverage by the organic acid.     

Study of Compton scattering of gamma rays from atomic electrons

In the present work, measurements are made on the intensity and angular distribution of Compton scattered gamma rays of energy 279 keV from K-shell electrons of tin at scattering angles ranging from 30° to 150° and also determined the K-shell to free electron differential collision, absorption and scattering cross section ratio. For this purpose, two NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors working in coincidence with 30 nsec resolving time are used to record the events. The experimental results are compared with the available experimental and theoretical data.     

Measurement of soot morphology by integrated LII and elastic light scattering

A compact experimental setup that integrates laser-induced incandescence (LII) and one-angle elastic light scattering (1A-ELS) to measure the size of polydisperse soot aggregates is described. A 532 nm laser and a detection angle of 35 degrees were employed, which provided sensitivity for aggregate radius of gyrations (R _g) of R _g≤200 nm. Both lognormal and self-preserving distribution functions are compared with width parameters derived from both aggregation theory and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. Using these distributions, mean aggregate sizes derived from the scattering measurements are compared. The LII+1A-ELS technique is validated with a two-angle elastic light scattering (2A-ELS) approach with an additional detection angle at 145 deg. Unlike LII+1A-ELS, the 2A-ELS technique has the advantage of not requiring knowledge of soot optical properties. Good agreement is found between the two techniques for a given distribution. A fundamental discrepancy exists between distributions derived from TEM and those according to aggregation theory, limiting the accuracy of both 2A-ELS and LII+1A-ELS. The dependence of both techniques on laser fluence and hence soot temperature is examined and discussed.     

Angular structure of radiation scattered by monolayer of polydisperse droplets of nematic liquid crystal

We considered light scattering by a polydisperse ensemble of droplets of a nematic liquid crystal. To model light scattering by a monolayer of polymer-dispersed spherical droplets of a nematic liquid crystal with cylindrical symmetry of its internal structure, we proposed a semianalytical modeling method. The method is based on interference approximation of the theory of multiple wave scattering, anomalous diffraction approximation, and effective-medium approximation. The method takes into account cooperative optical effects in concentrated, partially ordered layers and can be used to analyze the small-angle structure of the intensity of scattered radiation in relation to the concentration, size, polydispersity of liquid crystal droplets, orientation of their optical axes, and refractive indices of the liquid crystal and polymer. The obtained relations can be applied to solving direct and inverse problems of light scattering in composite liquid crystal materials using data of polarization measurements. We present graphical results of solving the direct problem for components of the polarization vector of scattered wave. These results illustrate the formation of an angular structure for monolayers with a high concentration of polydisperse droplets of the liquid crystal in the range of small scattering angles (0 < θ _s ≤ 8°).     

Inertial deposition of nanoparticle chain aggregates: Theory and comparison with impactor data for ultrafine atmospheric aerosols

Nanoparticle chain aggregates (NCAs) are often sized and collected using instruments that rely on inertial transport mechanisms. The instruments size segregate aggregates according to the diameter of a sphere with the same aerodynamic behavior in a mechanical force field. A new method of interpreting the aerodynamic diameter of NCAs is described. The method can be used to calculate aggregate surface area or volume. This is useful since inertial instruments are normally calibrated for spheres, and the calibrations cannot be directly used to calculate aggregate properties. A linear relationship between aggregate aerodynamic diameter and primary particle diameter based on published Monte-Carlo drag calculations is derived. The relationship shows that the aggregate aerodynamic diameter is independent of the number of primary particles that compose an aggregate, hence the aggregate mass. The analysis applies to aggregates with low fractal dimension and uniform primary particle diameter. This is often a reasonable approximation for the morphology of nanoparticles generated in high temperature gases. An analogy is the use of the sphere as an approximation for compact particles. The analysis is applied to the collection of NCAs by a low-pressure impactor. Our results indicate the low-pressure impactor collects aggregates with a known surface area per unit volume on each stage. Combustion processes often produce particles with aggregate structure. For diesel exhaust aggregates, the surface area per unit volume calculated by our method was about twice that of spheres with diameter equal to the aerodynamic diameter. Measurements of aggregates collected near a major freeway and at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) were made for two aerodynamic cutoff diameter diameters (d _a,50), 50 and 75 nm. (Aerodynamic cutoff diameter refers to the diameter of particles collected with 50% efficiency on a low-pressure impactor stage.) Near-freeway aggregates were probably primarily a mixture of diesel and internal combustion engine emissions. Aggregates collected at LAX were most likely present as a result of aircraft emissions. In both measurements, the aggregate aerodynamic diameters calculated from the primary particle diameter were fairly close to the stage cutoff diameter. The number of primary particles per aggregate varied one order of magnitude for particles depositing on the same stage. The average aggregate surface area per unit volume was 2.41 × 10⁶ cm⁻¹ and 2.59 × 10⁶ cm⁻¹ (50 nm d _a,50) and 1.81 × 10⁶ cm⁻¹ and 1.68 × 10⁶ cm⁻¹ (75 nm d _a,50) for near-freeway and LAX measurements, respectively. These preliminary measurements are consistent with values calculated from theory.     

Temperaturabhängigkeit des Streuuntergrundes im Elektroneninterferenzdiagramm polykristalliner Silberschichten

The filtered and unfiltered intensities of electrons (30 to 50 kev) scattered in thin polycrystalline silver foils (300 to 1400 Å) were measured by means of a retarding field apparatus in the temperature range from 170 to 380 °K. Further the absorption coefficients due to the inelastic and the different elastic scattering processes were determined. It is shown, that the diffuse elastic scattering intensity increases with temperature for all values of thickness and electron energy. From the measured absorption coefficients the contributions of the different elastic scattering processes to the total background intensity are calculated. It turns out, that the main contribution is due to multiple scattering processes including both Bragg reflections and thermal diffuse scattering. Furthermore it is shown, that in contrary to the filtered diagram the background intensity of the unfiltered diagram increases with temperature only for larger scattering angles. In the small angle region a reversed temperature behaviour is observed. This effect is caused by that part of inelastically scattered electrons at low angles coming directly from the primary beam and from the low order diffraction rings.     

Light scattering from colloids

This paper presents a review of light scattering results on static and dynamic properties of ordered colloidal suspensions of charged polystyrene particles and fractal colloidal aggregates. Our studies on static structure factor,S(Q), of ordered monodisperse colloidal suspensions and binary mixtures of particles with different particle diameters, measured by angle-resolved Rayleigh scattering will be discussed. This will include determination of bulk modulus using gravitational compression and observation of colloidal glass (inferred from splitting of the second peak inS(Q)). Dynamic light scattering, with real time analysis of scattered intensity fluctuations, is used to get information about Brownian dynamics of the particles. Recent advances in the field of light scattering from colloidal aggregates which show fractal geometry will also be discussed.     

Wirkungsquerschnitt und Winkelverteilung der elastischen und unelastischen Elektronenstreuung in Aluminiumschichten

Absolute intensity measurements of the electrons scattered by a polycrystalline Aluminium foil were carried out in the energy range between 25 and 50 keV. The electrons scattered elastically were separated from those scattered inelastically by means of a retarding field. The intensities of the electrons having passed the foil unscattered and of those which were scattered elastically into the Debye-Scherrerrings and into the continuous background can be interpreted by the assumption of reasonable thicknesses of the crystalline Aluminium and the amorphous Aluminium-Oxide. These values agree approximately with the thickness measured by light absorption. Additionally the probability of the inelastic scattering process can be deduced from these measurements. Investigations of the angular distribution were carried out in order to study the influence of the inelastic scattering on the shape of the primary beam, the rings and the continuous background. The results are discussed in detail. Some results are given in particular, concerning the increase of the half width of the rings due to inelastic scattering processes.     

Scattering and propagation of terahertz pulses in random soot aggregate systems

Scattering and propagation of terahertz pulses in random soot aggregate systems are studied by using the generalized multi-particle Mie-solution(GMM) and the pulse propagation theory. Soot aggregates are obtained by the diffusion-limited aggregation(DLA) model. For a soot aggregate in soot aggregate systems, scattering characteristics are analyzed by using the GMM. Scattering intensities versus scattering angles are given. The effects of different positions of the aggregate on the scattering intensities, scattering cross sections, extinction cross sections, and absorption cross sections are computed and compared. Based on pulse propagation in random media, the transmission of terahertz pulses in random soot aggregate systems is determined by the two-frequency mutual coherence function. Numerical simulations and analysis are given for terahertz pulses(0.7956 THz).     

Absolute scattering cross-section measurements by a ratio technique

Calculations and measurements are presented which show that absolute scattering cross sections (“Rayleigh ratios”) can be determined by measuring the ratio of the depolarized intensity of doubly scattered light to the polarized intensity of singly scattered light. This technique should be useful in determining the susceptibilities of fluids and the molecular weights of macromolecules.     

Sensitive Spectroscopic Detection of Large and Denatured Protein Aggregates in Solution by Use of the Fluorescent Dye Nile Red

The fluorescent dye Nile red was used as a probe for the sensitive detection of large, denatured aggregates of the model protein β-galactosidase (E. coli) in solution. Aggregates were formed by irreversible heat denaturation of β-galactosidase below and above the protein’s unfolding temperature of 57.4°C, and the presence of aggregates in heated solutions was confirmed by static light scattering. Interaction of Nile red with β-galactosidase aggregates led to a shift of the emission maximum (λ _max) from 660 to 611 nm, and to an increase of fluorescence intensity. Time-resolved fluorescence and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) measurements showed that Nile red detected large aggregates with hydrodynamic radii around 130 nm. By steady-state fluorescence measurements, it was possible to detect 1 nM of denatured and aggregated β-galactosidase in solution. The comparison with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) showed that native β-galactosidase and small aggregates thereof had no substantial effect on the fluorescence of Nile red. Large aggregates were not detected by SEC, because they were excluded from the column. The results with β-galactosidase demonstrate the potential of Nile red for developing complementary analytical methods that overcome the size limitations of SEC, and can detect the formation of large protein aggregates at early stages.     

Structural studies of tetrachloride liquids

The differential cross-sections for neutron scattering from liquid carbon tetrachloride have been measured with the TSS instrument at the Harwell Electron Linac. Data were taken at seven different scattering angles for a wavelength range of 0·2–3·5 Å. The observed diffraction patterns at high momentum transfer (> 8–30 Å^-1) have been analysed in terms of the molecular form factor f ₁(Q). It was found that the oscillation amplitudes could be satisfactorily described only by introducing an energy-dependent term into the Debye-Waller factors of the form factor. The f ₁(Q) data were fitted with a four-parameter function for measurements at scattering angles of 150°, 90° and 58°. The carbon-chlorine bond length parameter was accurately defined in all cases and had a mean value of 1·766 ± 0·002 Å. The inclusion of an anharmonicity constant in the form factor gave an improved χ²-fit to the data with an increased value of 1·770 ± 0·002 Å for the bond length. The results are in excellent agreement with other measurements and show the importance of pulsed neutron techniques for molecular structure studies of disordered materials.     

Small-angle elastic scattering of 2.5 MeV neutrons

Differential cross sections and asymmetries of 2.50 MeV polarized neutrons elastically scattered by In, Ho, Hg, Bi and U have been determined for scattering angles from 2.1° to 9.1°. The measurements were carried out by the use of a neutron positional spectrometer. The results, when compared with the predictions of the electromagnetic interaction, indicate some deviation of 〈σ(θ)P(θ)〉 from the expected values. The observed cross sections are systematically greater than those evaluated within the framework of the optical model.     

Angular dependence of the scattered ion yields in 4He+ → Cu scattering spectrometry

Assuming long range charge exchange mechanisms and neglecting shadowing effects, theory predicts the variation of the scattered ion yield with the scattering angle θ and the incidence angle ψ for some well defined experimental conditions. Such measurements were performed for ⁴He⁺ scattering on polycrystalline copper at incident energies ranging from 0.5 to 1.25 keV and at scattering angles from 20° to 130°. It is suggested that shadowing effects should be taken into account in order to explain the observed behaviour.