Abstract:
A light-scattering accessory for double-beam spectrophotometers and an improved double-beam, ratio-recording light-scattering spectrophotometer are disclosed. The attachment may be utilized to convert a standard double-beam spectrophotometer into a scattered light-measuring device and consists of an attachment having housed therein a means for directing the sample beam to a sample cell and a detector located on a goniometer rotatable about the cell. The reference beam is passed through an optical attenuator to the detector of the spectrophotometer. Electrical attenuation devices are provided and may comprise either a single attenuating potentiometer connected to each of the detectors or separate attenuators connected to the separate detectors. The attenuators allow measurement of signals over a wide dynamic range by attenuating either the reference or the sample signal and when utilized in combination with the optical attenuator located in the reference beam provide an extremely wide dynamic range for the instrument. Also disclosed is a novel sample cell and beam trap, the beam trap consisting of a piece of black glass having at least one optically flat surface and a black glass rod attached thereto to suspend the glass plate in the beam. The sample cell may be provided with a single optically transmitting window and the beam trap located within the cell for improved results.