Abstract:
The simulated dynamic light scattering data of particles with different distribution widths were inverted using the methods of removing and retaining the non-Gaussian term. The distribution of the particle size information in the light intensity autocorrelation function (ACF) with different distribution widths was calculated by the differences between the light intensity ACF and the light intensity ACF corresponding to the average particle size. The results show that for narrow distribution particle systems, the removal and retention of non-Gaussian term have no obvious effect on the inverted particle size distribution at lower noise levels. As the noise level increases, the performance indices of inversion results by removing non-Gaussian term are better than that of by retaining non-Gaussian term. For wide distribution particle systems (coefficients of variation typically greater than 3%), retaining the non-Gaussian term can yield more accurate inversion results. The reason for the above results is that the content of particle size information in the non-Gaussian term corresponding to particles with different distribution widths is different. Compared with narrow distribution particle systems, the non-Gaussian term corresponding to wide distribution particle systems contains more particle size information. The removal of non-Gaussian term can lead to the loss of some particle size information, thereby reducing the accuracy of the inversion results. Since the long-delay period of the intensity ACF contains more noise, the inversion of narrow distribution particles not only cannot benefit from retaining non-Gaussian term, but also reduces the accuracy of inversion results due to the increase of noise.