Abstract

Rayleigh scattering is a measurement technique applicable for the determination of density distributions in various technical or natural flows. The current sensitivity limits of the Rayleigh scattering technique were investigated experimentally. It is shown that it is possible to measure density oscillations caused by acoustic pressure oscillations noninvasively and directly. Acoustical standing waves in a rectangular duct were investigated using Rayleigh scattering and compared to microphone measurements. The comparison showed a sensitivity of the Rayleigh scattering technique of 75 Pa ($7·{10}^{-4}\mathrm{kg}/{\mathrm{m}}^3$) and a precision of 14 Pa ($1·{10}^{-4}\mathrm{kg}/{\mathrm{m}}^3$). Therefore, it was also shown that Rayleigh scattering is applicable for acoustic measurements.

©2012 Optical Society of America

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