FULL-FIELD MEASUREMENTS OF PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS .1. THEORETICAL LIMITATIONS OF THE POLARIZATION-RATIO METHOD

Detailed theoretical and experimental studies of the polarization rati o technique have been completed to ascertain its sensitivity and accur acy with regard to sizing Of discrete particle distributions. A novel broadband technique was developed for sizing individual particles (par ticles with diameters exceeding 10 mu m) as well as local averages in two-phase flows of moderate number densities (10(3)-10(4)/cm(3)). The technique uses an imaging configuration such that all particles in a p lane can be simultaneously sized. This paper reviews the theory and pr esents several calculations that demonstrate the sensitivity and accur acy of the technique as a function of particle size, refractive index, local number density, and local size distribution. Part II will compa re experimental results of the broadband polarization ratio technique with those of a technique based on scattered intensities.