Toward a theory of the Perrin matrix for light scattering from dilute polymer solutions

Abstract

We present a treatment of the polarization of light scattered by dilute polymer solutions. The treatment is complete in the sense that it gives a theoretical expression for every quantity that can be measured by the use of polarized light, at a given scattering angle and given optical frequency. The monomer units of the polymer are assumed to be small with respect to wavelength, but no such assumption is made for the polymer as a whole. The final closed expressions should be very accurate for bodies in the size range of enzyme molecules, and should permit calculations of light scattering properties as a function of polymer geometry.