Appendix A: Technical Overview 111
Light Scatter
When a cell or particle passes through a focused laser beam, laser light is
scattered in all directions (Figure A-4). Light that scatters roughly in the same
direction as the laser beam is called forward scatter (FSC); light that scatters
roughly perpendicular to the laser beam is called side scatter (SSC). FSC and SSC
intensities indicate physical properties of cells:
• FSC—indicates relative differences in the size of the cells or particles
• SSC—indicates relative differences in the internal complexity or granularity
of the cells or particles
Figure A-4 Forward scatter (FSC) and side scatter (SSC)
laser
side scatter
forward scatter
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