Behaviour of macroscopic rigid spheres in Poiseuille flow Part 1. Determination of local concentration by statistical analysis of particle passages through crossed light beams

An apparatus is described for determining particle passages through any selected point on a tube cross-section. The method depends on the simultaneous blocking out of two mutually perpendicular light beams by a particle passing through their common region. The coincidence is registered and counted electronically. At higher particle concentrations coincidences are also registered arising from a pair-wise occupation of the light beams by two particles. An analysis is presented showing that these pair coincidences can be allowed for exactly in terms of experimentally measurable quantities. The reliability and reproducibility of the method is discussed and illustrated by examples from sphere suspensions in Poiseuille flow.