High speed optical tomography system for imaging dynamic transparent media

We describe the design and operation of a high speed optical tomography system for measuring two-dimensional images of a dynamic phase object at a rate of 5 kHz. Data from a set of eight Hartmann wavefront sensors is back-projected to produce phase images showing the details of the inner structure of a heated air flow. The tomographic reconstructions have a spatial resolution of approximately 2.0 mm and can measure temperature variations across the flow with an accuracy of about 0.7 C. Series of animated reconstructions at different downstream locations illustrate the development of flow structure and the effect of acoustic flow forcing.