Analysis of the Beaucage model

The Beaucage model is used to analyze small-angle scattering (SAS) data from fractal and particulate systems. It models the Guinier and Porod regions with a smooth transition between them and yields a radius of gyration and a Porod exponent. This model is an approximate form of an earlier polymer fractal model that has been generalized to cover a wider scope. The practice of allowing both the Guinier and the Porod scale factors to vary independently during nonlinear least-squares fits introduces undesired artefacts in the fitting of SAS data to this model. Such artefacts as well as an error in the original formulation of the model are discussed. This model is compared with other published models.