Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

10:53
Simultaneous Measurement of Turbulence and Particle Kinematics Using Flow Imaging Techniques
Published on: March 12, 2019
Scanning laser image correlation for measurement of flow
Molly J Rossow1, William W Mantulin, Enrico Gratton
1University of California, Irvine, Biomedical Engineering Department, 3120 Natural Sciences 2, Irvine, California 92697-2715, USA.
Journal of Biomedical Optics
|May 13, 2010
Summary
Scanning Laser Image Correlation (SLIC) measures fluid velocity using laser scanning and cross-correlation. This advanced optical technique offers accurate flow measurements across various scales, overcoming limitations of other methods.
Area of Science:
- Fluid dynamics
- Optical measurement techniques
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Traditional optical flow measurement methods like laser speckle and spatial temporal image correlation spectroscopy have limitations.
- Accurate measurement of fluid velocity is crucial in fields ranging from microfluidics to biomedical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and describe Scanning Laser Image Correlation (SLIC) as a novel optical technique for fluid velocity measurement.
- To highlight the advantages of SLIC over existing methods and its potential applications.
Main Methods:
- SLIC combines laser scanning of an arbitrary pattern with pair cross-correlation between points in the scanned pattern.
- The technique utilizes correlation analysis for noise and background insensitivity.
- Instrumentation can be modified or zoomed for measurements on different scales.
Main Results:
- SLIC overcomes limitations of other optical correlation techniques.
- The method is applicable to a range of measurement scales.
- SLIC is robust against instrument noise and background interference.
- Detailed information on flow direction and patterns can be obtained.
Conclusions:
- SLIC is a versatile and robust optical technique for fluid velocity measurement.
- Its scalability and insensitivity to noise make it suitable for diverse applications.
- Potential applications include microfluidics and blood flow analysis.

