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Rayleigh linewidths of laser light inelastically scattered from neural membranes

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Abstract

Laser light is scattered off the surface of nerve from the walking legs ofHomarus Americanus and the spectral power density of the Rayleigh line is obtained.

The data is interpreted in terms of a relaxation time of a scattering unit. The experimental results are consistent with a scattering unit having a molecular weight of the order of 30,000 in a medium of several poise viscosity.

The relaxation time for scattering is calculated to be 16±2μsec in the resting state and 10±2μsec in the depolarized state.

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Fritz, O.G. Rayleigh linewidths of laser light inelastically scattered from neural membranes. J Biol Phys 3, 142–154 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02308897

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