Light-beating spectrum of erythrocytes

In a previous report, we described a shifted spectral component in the light-beating spectrum of erythrocyte ghosts, and presented evidence suggesting that this component was related to the membrane active transport mechanism. Here, we describe the results of further studies which show that the shifted component does not derive from the active transport mechanism. Rahter, the shifted component is caused by convection in our cuvette, and appears in the homodyne spectrum because the light scattered from the incident beam mixes with that scattered from the beam which is reflected from the face where the beam exits from the cuvette.