Quantitative simulation of errors in correlation analysis

Bounding the errors of measurements derived from correlation functions of l ight scattered from some physical systems is typically complicated by the i ll conditioning of the data inversion. Parameter values are estimated from fitting well-chosen models to measurements taken for long enough to look ac ceptable, or at least to yield convergence to some reasonable result. We sh ow some simple numerical simulation that indicate the possibility of substa ntial and unanticipated errors even in comparatively simple experiments. We further show quantitative evidence for the effectiveness of a number of ad hoc aspects of the art of performing good light-scattering experiments and recovering useful measurements from them. Separating data-inversion proper ties from experimental inconsistencies may lead to a better understanding a nd better bounding of some errors, giving new ways to improve overall exper imental accuracy. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.