High-speed scanning laser diffractometer

A high-speed laser diffractometer is described which employs a novel scanned array or optical light guides to record the angular intensity variation of light scattered radially by a particle throughout an arc of 180 degrees C in approximately 2.8 ms. The instruments has proved successful in the analysis of micrometre-sized fibres and individual microspheres in liquid flow. Furthermore, potential exists in the analysis of precipitation reaction kinetics and aerosol dynamics involving rapid particle growth and coagulation.