Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>A theory has been developed for spectral photosedimentation in a centrifuge. The use of several wavelengths allows particle size analyses in the submicron range without a knowledge of the optical material properties and is not restricted to spherical particles. As a result of this theory the extinction efficiency and the particle size distribution of the analysed particles can be calculated even for non‐spherical particles from an experiment.</jats:p><jats:p>A photocentrifuge has been built according to the developed theory. The theory has been verified by the measurement of spherical particles for which Mie theory is applicable. The experimentally obtained extinction efficiency agrees well with computations according to Mie theory. The accuracy of measured particle size distributions is comparable to those measured with other sedimentometers.</jats:p>