About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Paper
Analysis of macromolecular polydispersity in intensity correlation spectroscopy: The method of cumulants
Abstract
The first order electric field correlation function of laser light scattered by polydisperse solutions of macromolecules can be written as a sum or distribution of exponentials, with decay rates proportional to the diffusion coefficients of the solute molecules. It is shown that the logarithm of this correlation function is formally equivalent to a cumulant generating function. A method is described by which the distribution function of the decay rates (and thus the extent of polydispersity) can be characterized, in a light scattering experiment, by calculation of the moments or cumulants. The systematic and random statistical errors in the calculated cumulants are discussed.