Absolute number concentration measurement of submicrometer particles
Condensation nuclei in the atmosphere are known to be an important factor in the development of clouds, the occurrence of rainfall, and the formation of particulate air pollutants that can cause undesirable effects on man and his environment. Condensation nuclei are invisible and numerous, and their number concentration has become the characteristic of interest and has been widely studied since the development of the first condensation nuclei counter by Aitken in 1888. According to Kyle, the number concentration of particles in the sensitive volume of an instrument can be determined by knowing the distribution of signal output from the instrument. He assumed that each signal comes from a different random sample taken from a volume in which particles are distributed according to Poisson statistics and that each particle contributes equally to the signal. A General Electric Condensation Nuclei Counter has been adapted to test the feasibility of Kyle's theory under laboratory conditions. As a result, the theory has been modified and a correction factor is required for concentration measurement. Based on the modified theory, a new condensation nuclei counter was designed to have the following advantages over the widely-used counters: it provides an absolute concentration measurement; and even a small random fluctuation of nuclei concentration can immediately be detected. 150 references, 42 figures, 15 tables.
- Research Organization:
- Rochester Univ., NY (USA). Dept. of Radiation Biology and Biophysics
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76EV03490
- OSTI ID:
- 6588453
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/EV/03490-2231; ON: DE84016269
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Thesis
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Absolute number concentration measurement of submicronmeter particles
Topics in Theoretical Physics