Method and apparatus for analyzing supersonic flow fields by laser induced fluorescence

摘要

A method and apparatus for visually analyzing gaseous flow fields. A vaporous substance that fluoresces when irradiated by a particular laser beam is injected into a structure containing a flowing gas in a manner such that a uniform dispersion of the vaporous substance throughout the gas flow is achieved. The beam from a pump laser in optical communication with the gas flow pumps the ground state of the vaporous substance to an excited state and causes the vaporous substance to fluoresce in the area illuminated by the beam, thus providing a visual indication of the pattern of gas flow in the structure.