On the Effect of Time Lapse Between Sampling and Expansion in the Aitken Nuclei Counter

Abstract

Previous, and more recent, comparisons of electronmicroscopic and conventional nuclei counts show that the Aitken counts are deficient. Special experiments revealed that the cause for this deficiency lies in the rapid decay of nuclei in the time lapse between sampling and counting nuclei. It was found that a lapse of 30 seconds reduces the nuclei concentration in the counter by roughly 50%. When this decay is considered, the Aitken and electron microscopic counts can be brought into good agreement.