Simulation of colloidal particle scattering: Sensitivity to attractive forces

Colloidal particle scattering is a recently developed method for the determ ination of surface forces between micrometer-sized particles. In this paper we extend earlier simulation studies to interactions of the DLVO type incl uding purely attractive potentials. We examine the criteria for capture and compare simulated results for a range of interaction parameters. We find t hat the scattering patterns can be represented in a simple way once a corre ction for angular distortion has been applied. This representation should a id the analysis and interpretation of experimental data. (C) 2000 Academic Press.