# Speckle-Based Maximum Density Theory for Micro- and Nanoparticle Characterization via Dynamic Light Scattering

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a new method called Maximum Density Speckle Scattering (MDSS) for measuring the size of micro- and nanoparticles using dynamic light scattering, offering a robust alternative to traditional techniques.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the application of maximum density theory to dynamic speckle patterns in DLS for nanoparticle characterization.

## Key findings

- MDSS accurately determines particle diameters by analyzing the density of maxima in speckle intensity time series.
- The method is robust against optical complexities and does not require explicit optical parameters.
- MDSS achieves accuracy comparable to conventional DLS techniques across varying particle sizes and concentrations.

## Abstract

Dynamic light scattering (DLS) is a widely used technique
for characterizing
suspended micro- and nanoparticles by analyzing their Brownian motion.
Here, we introduce Maximum Density Speckle Scattering (MDSS), an alternative
approach based on the analysis of dynamic speckle intensity time series.
By applying maximum density theoryoriginally developed for
the statistical analysis of nuclear reactions and later adapted for
the study of conductance fluctuationswe analyze a time series
associated with speckle patterns in DLS experiments to determine the
average diameter of silica particles. From the density of maxima on
the time series, it is possible to obtain the correlation time and
calculate the particles’ diameter. A key advantage of this
method is its robustness against optical complexities, as it circumvents
the need for explicit optical parameters required in conventional
DLS. Using three distinct particle sizes, we demonstrate the method’s
efficiency and robustness in the results, even when varying the sample’s
concentration, showcasing its potential as a promising alternative
for micro- and nanoscale material characterization. The achieved experimental
accuracy rivals conventional techniques, demonstrating the potential
of MDSS for measuring micro- and nanoparticle dimensions.