Influence of statistical errors on size distributions obtained from dynamic light scattering data. Experimental limitations in size distribution determination

Abstract

The relationship between the level of statistical errors in a measured intensity autocorrelation function and the relative size distribution width uncertainty is estimated. The results of the Fourier analysis of statistical errors existing in measured autocorrelation functions indicate that the individual error course can be similar to the systematic distortion. This has been also confirmed experimentally. The problem of the baseline error is also discussed. It is shown that the baseline error is compensated in dynamic light scattering data during normalisation.