Particle Morphology and Density Characterization by Combined Mobility and Aerodynamic Diameter Measurements. Part 1: Theory

Different on-line submicron particle sizing techniques report different “equivalent diameters.” For example, differential mobility analyzers (DMAs) report electrical mobility diameter (dm ), while a number of recently developed instruments (such as the Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer, or AMS) measure vacuum aerodynamic diameter (dva ). Particle density and physical morphology (shape) have important effects on diameter measurements. Here a framework is presented for combining the information content of different equivalent diameter measurements into a single coherent mathematical description of the particles. We first present a review of the mathematical formulations used in the literature and their…