National Cancer Institute (source definition)
Photon Correlation Spectroscopy
A type of spectroscopy that utilizes a laser beam to irradiate a sample containing particles in suspension, resulting in light scattering. Rapid fluctuations in scattering intensity, around a mean value at a certain angle, occur because of particle diffusion and are dependent upon on particle size. The calculated correlation function yields a diffusion coefficient, for a given temperature and viscosity, which can be used to calculate particle size.
Review and references
Automated source check (NCI definition)
2026-10-20
2026-10-24
professional use
References
- NCI Thesaurus 26.09d — Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (C62329)
- Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C62329. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
- Entangled photon pair excitation and time-frequency-filtered multidimensional photon correlation spectroscopy as a probe for dissipative exciton kinetics. — J Chem Phys, 2026-09-01 (PMID 42803491; literature)
- Pressure-Dependent Diffusion of PEG-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles Probed by X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy. — J Phys Chem B, 2026-09-01 (PMID 42683935; literature)
- A pipeline for megahertz X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy on soft matter samples at the MID instrument of European XFEL. — J Synchrotron Radiat, 2026-04-10 (PMID 41961523; literature)
- X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy of hydrated lysozyme at elevated pressures. — Phys Chem Chem Phys, 2026-03-11 (PMID 41705494; literature)
What it is
A type of spectroscopy that utilizes a laser beam to irradiate a sample containing particles in suspension, resulting in light scattering. Rapid fluctuations in scattering intensity, around a mean value at a certain angle, occur because of particle diffusion and are dependent upon on particle size. The calculated correlation function yields a diffusion coefficient, for a given temperature and viscosity, which can be used to calculate particle size.
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C62329. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-20. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Compliance note
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.
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