Particle analyzer, particle analysis method, and particle analysis program

A particle analysis method comprising the steps of:

• irradiating light to a sample having particles being dispersed in a dispersion medium;
• detecting two different polarization components contained in scattered light to be caused by the light irradiation;
• a polarization relationship value calculation step of calculating a polarization relationship value whose parameter is light intensity of the two polarization components;
• obtaining a first relationship information indicating a relationship between the polarization relationship value and an aspect ratio of a major axis length of the particles to a minor axis length thereof, wherein the step of obtaining the first relationship information includes using a standard particle having a known aspect ratio and calculating the polarization relationship value of the known aspect ratio using the two different polarization components of the standard particle obtained using the light source, the polarizing element, and the detector, or obtaining the first relationship information through an external device;
• storing, in a first relationship information storage section, the previously determined first relationship information;
• an aspect ratio calculation step of calculating the aspect ratio of sample particles from a polarization relationship value obtained by the polarization relationship value calculation step and the first relationship information;
• a diffusion coefficient acquisition step of acquiring a diffusion coefficient of the sample particles in the sample;
• storing, a second relationship information storage section, previously determined second relationship information indicating a relationship between the diffusion coefficient, either the major axis length or the minor axis length, and the aspect ratio;
• and
• an axis length calculation step of calculating a minor axis length or a major axis length of the sample particles from the aspect ratio calculated by the aspect ratio calculation step, the diffusion coefficient acquired by the diffusion coefficient acquisition step, and the second relationship information.

A recording medium having recorded therein a particle analysis program used for a particle analyzer configured to irradiate light, using a light source, to a sample having sample particles being dispersed in a dispersion medium and detect, using a polarizing element and a detector, two different polarization components contained in scattered light to be caused by the light irradiation, the particle analysis program causing a computer to have functions as:

• a polarization relationship value calculation section to calculate a polarization relationship value whose parameter is light intensity of the two polarization components, the polarization relationship value calculation section being configured to obtain a first relationship information indicating a relationship between the polarization relationship value and an aspect ratio of a major axis length of the particles to a minor axis length thereof, by one of calculating the first relationship information using a standard particle having a known aspect ratio, wherein the polarization relationship value of the known aspect ratio is calculated using the two different polarization components of the standard particle obtained using the light source, the polarizing element, and the detector, or obtaining the first relationship information through an external device, the first relationship information being stored in a first relationship information storage section;
• an aspect ratio calculation section to calculate an aspect ratio of a major axis length of the sample particles to a minor axis length of the sample particles from the polarization relationship value obtained by the polarization relationship value calculation section and the first relationship information;
• a diffusion coefficient acquisition section to acquire a diffusion coefficient of the sample particles;
• and
• an axis length calculation section to calculate a minor axis length or a major axis length of the sample particles from the aspect ratio calculated by the aspect ratio calculation section, the diffusion coefficient acquired by the diffusion coefficient acquisition section, and second relationship information indicating a relationship between the diffusion coefficient, either the major axis length or the minor axis length, and the aspect ratio, the second relationship information being previously determined and stored in a second relationship information storage section.