Rayleigh-Debye-Gans as a model for continuous monitoring of biological particles: Part I, assessment of theoretical limits and approximations.

A rapid tool for the characterization of submicron particles is light spectroscopy. Rayleigh-Debye-Gans and Mie theories provide light scattering solutions that can be evaluated within the time constants required for continuous real time monitoring applications, as in characterization of biological particles. A multiwavelength assessment of Rayleigh-Debye-Gans theory for spheres was conducted over the UV-Vis wavelength range where strict adherence to the limits of the theory at a single wavelength could not be met. Reported corrections to the refractive indices were developed to extend the range of application of the Rayleigh-Debye-Gans approximation. The results of this study show that there is considerable disagreement between Rayleigh-Debye-Gans and Mie theory across the UV-Vis spectrum.