The small angle light scattering of biological cells. Theoretical considerations

The light scattered by living biological cells (assumed homogeneous spheres with a relative refractive index, m = 1.05) at small angles has been calculated by the Hodkinson approximation and the more rigorous Mie theory. Both methods predict that relative volume distributions may be estimated from low angle scattering measurements on each cell in a population. Under conditions of short wavelength illumination or strong absorption, absolute volume information may also be obtained.