PORTABLE LIGHT-SCATTERING SPECTROMETER AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE TIME AVERAGE AUTOCORRELATION FUNCTION

摘要

The present invention relates to a portable light-scattering spectrometer (EPEL) which uses photon correlation to measure and characterise the dynamic scattering of light in colloidal emulsions. The invention also relates to a method for determining the time average autocorrelation function. The device proposed by the present invention comprises an optomechanical system with a special configuration including at least one source of coherent light, lenses, a beamsplitter, an optical element that reflects and transmits the beams from the light source, a polarising element and other elements that achieve superior characteristics such as reduced size, portability, ease of handling, robustness, shorter time for carrying out diffusion dynamics measurements, possibility of use of the open device in a lighted environment without the need to stop the light from the outer environment from falling on the sample, and in various environments; good resistance to vibrations and the possibility to orient the optomechanical system in all directions in space. The EPEL can be used in laboratories and also for in situ determination of diffusion dynamics, including in immunological assays.