Dynamic light scattering with a CCD camera

Abstract

We have successfully implemented a method to measure intensity autocorrelation functions with a CCD camera and a fast computer. We report light scattering experiments on solutions of diffusing latex spheres in glycerol and compare our results to those obtained with a conventional hardwired electronic correlator. Averaging allows significant reduction of measurement times and makes this technique suitable for the study of systems with very long time scales. Moreover, the CCD setup allows measurement of two-time correlation functions under nonequilibrium conditions where conventional correlators which rely on time-averaging fail. The new method may offer significant advantage for low-intensity applications like x-ray correlation spectroscopy.