Particle image identification and correlation analysis in microscopic holographic particle image velocimetry

This paper discusses the different analysis methods used in holographic particle image velocimetry to measure particle displacement and compares their relative performance. A digital holographic microscope is described and is used to record the light scattered by particles deposited on cover slides that are displaced between exposures. In this way, particle position and displacement are controlled and a numerical data set is generated. Data extraction using nearest neighbor analysis and correlation of either the reconstructed complex amplitude or intensity fields is then investigated.