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Optical ray tracing method for simulating beam-steering effects during laser diagnostics in turbulent media
Applied Optics
|April 18, 2017
Summary
Optical ray tracing simulations show that pressure gradients significantly steer laser beams in gas diagnostics, causing measurement uncertainties. Temperature gradients have minimal impact unless pressures are high.
Area of Science:
- Optical diagnostics
- Laser spectroscopy
- Fluid dynamics
Background:
- Coherent spectroscopic methods rely on crossed laser beams for gas-phase diagnostics.
- Turbulent flows with refractive index gradients cause beam steering, leading to measurement errors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simulate laser beam steering caused by pressure and temperature gradients in gas-phase media.
- To analyze these effects in high-pressure, high-temperature combustion environments like gas turbines.
Main Methods:
- Utilized optical ray tracing with ZEMAX OpticStudio software.
- Simulated two- and three-beam crossing configurations.
- Investigated effects of pressure (1-50 atm) and temperature (300-3000 K) gradients.
Main Results:
- Pressure gradients cause significant beam steering and signal fluctuations.
- Temperature gradients have minimal effect at lower pressures.
- At higher pressures, temperature gradients also notably affect signal levels.
Conclusions:
- Pressure gradients are a primary source of beam steering errors in gas-phase laser diagnostics.
- Simulation results highlight the need to account for refractive index gradients in combustion device diagnostics.