Diesel Exhaust Particle Characterization by Polarized Light Scattering 982629

Polarized light scattering was used to determine the size distribution and composition of the undiluted exhaust particulate stream from a one-cylinder, direct-injection diesel generator set. To do this an angle-scanning polarization-modulated nephelometer was used to completely characterize the scattered light. The size distribution and complex index of refraction of the particles were determined from the data by simultaneously fitting measured the angle-dependence of the four scattering transformation matrix elements with Mie scattering calculations. The no-load exhaust was composed of small non-absorbing particles (mean diameter 0.04 μm) and the particles at full load conditions were larger (0.12 μm) and more highly absorbing.