Patent ID: 7460234

Claim:
A light scattering detector device, comprising: a detection cell to accept particles suspended in a gas stream and permit a polarized beam to pass through a trajectory of the particles and gas stream; a sample light detector disposed to detect light scattered in the detection cell; a sample compound lens collector to direct light scattered in the detection cell upon the sample light detector; a spherical mirror to direct light scattered in the detection cell to the compound lens collector; a light trap that accepts the polarized beam after it passes through the detection cell, the light trap including, an elongated housing through which the polarized beam passes, and light absorptive material within the elongated housing; and an absorptive filter disposed to substantially align the electric field vector of the polarized beam with the plane of incidence defined by the polarized beam and the normal to said absorptive filter, and disposed to intersect the polarized beam at an angle of incidence that approximates Brewster's angle; a reference cell through which the polarized beam passes before the polarized beam is accepted by said light trap; a reference light detector; a reference cell compound lens collector to direct light scattered in the reference cell upon the reference light detector; and a spherical mirror to direct light scattered in the reference cell to the reference cell compound lens collector.