Assessment of the Measurement Uncertainty for Amplitude-dependent Single Optical Particle Counters

Abstract

This work presents the functionality of a numerical code developed to simulate the Amplitude-dependent Single Optical Particle Counters working principle, aiming to assess the expected measurement uncertainty when the variability of the main interesting parameters is considered. The tool exploits Mie theory for light scattering to describe the interaction and the products of a collimated laser light enlightening aerosol particles. After the validation of the numerical code vs. a commercial software and literature data, the numerical tool was applied to a real case study, i.e., the MicroMED instrument, an Optical Particle Counter designed to operate on Mars. The detector output was simulated by exploiting firstly the nominal values for the light scattering quantities of interest, then accounting for the variability of the parameters with a Monte Carlo simulation. Thus, the designed numerical code represents either a valid support for Amplitude-dependent Single Optical Particle Counters calibration activities or for performing a feasibility study in brand new instruments' preliminary design phases.