Extinction-sedimentation inversion technique for measuring size distribution of artificial fogs.

In measuring the size distribution n(r) of artificial fog particles, it is important that the natural state of the particles not be disturbed by the measuring device, such as occurs when samples are drawn through tubes. This paper describes a method for carrying out such a measurement by allowing the fog particles to settle in quiet air inside an enclosure through which traverses a parallel beam of light for measuring the optical depth tau(t) as a function of time t. An analytic function fit to the tau(t) time decay curve can be directly inverted to yield n(r). Results of one such experiment performed on artificial fogs are shown as an example. The forwardscattering corrections to the measured extinction coefficient are also discussed with the aim of the optimizing the experimental design so that the error due to forwardscattering is minimized.