Abstract
An experimental method is presented that detects whether a droplet is spherical. The method is based on a comparison between two droplet diameters deduced from two different optical interference patterns observed in a rainbow that is created by a droplet scattering laser light. Experimental validation has been carried out with a CCD camera. Once a rainbow pattern has been identified as coming from a spherical droplet, we can derive a reliable droplet velocity and diameter from the same interference patterns, using theories for the rainbow that are valid only for spherical droplets. Preliminary experiments have been carried out with a laser beam and a photomultiplier.
© 1996 Optical Society of America
Full Article | PDF ArticleMore Like This
J. P. A. J. van Beeck, D. Giannoulis, L. Zimmer, and M. L. Riethmuller
Opt. Lett. 24(23) 1696-1698 (1999)
J. Wilms and B. Weigand
Appl. Opt. 46(11) 2109-2118 (2007)
James Hom and Norman Chigier
Appl. Opt. 41(10) 1899-1907 (2002)