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A frequent source of errors in dynamic light-scattering experiments is partial heterodyning caused by scattering on large particles or imperfections of the sample cell. With a conventional two-pinhole receiver it is impossible to distinguish its effect from the effects of a finite detector area and detector nonlinearity. However, an accurate data analysis is feasible when a single-mode light receiver is employed. We present formulas for single-mode autocorrelation and cross-correlation functions that include a local oscillator and an incoherent background of arbitrary strength and take into account detector nonlinearity (e.g., dead time) up to second order. A simple but accurate method for the determination of the nonlinearity parameters and the effective number of receiver modes is also provided. The success of the data-evaluation procedure is demonstrated by the measurement of the hydrodynamic radius of latex in the presence of deliberately added local-oscillator or incoherent-background contributions.

In view of time correlated photon-counting experiments using wavelengths at the red end of the electromagnetic spectrum, we developed a simple electronic circuit for periodical gated quenching of silicon avalanche photodiodes. We compare the performance of this device with commercially available passive and active quenching modules and a reference photomultiplier. The detection system’s nonlinearities, i.e., dead time and afterpulsing, lead to direct and indirect distortions of photocount correlation functions. We characterize this nonlinear behavior by measuring intensity auto- and cross-correlation functions and supply nonlinearity parameters for each of the four detection systems. In addition, transfer functions are given which allow an estimate for the highest count rates accessible for each detection system.

Density and concentration fluctuations have been investigated in a 3mol% GeO2 doped silica glass as a function of the fictive temperature (the temperature at which the structure of the supercooled liquid has been frozen-in to form the glass) by small angle x-ray scattering measurements. The fluctuations increase in a way is quite similar to that observed for pure silica glass as a result of density fluctuation fictive temperature dependence. Fluctuations have also been studied in glasses containing different amounts of GeO2 up to 21mol% GeO2. The fluctuations are shown to increase very strongly with germanium amount as a result of strong concentration fluctuation increase. This observation is in agreement with already observed excess losses in light scattering measurements.