Visualization of exhaled breath by transmission electronic speckle pattern interferometry

Area of Science:

• Acoustics
• Optical Physics
• Biophysics

Background:

• Visualizing air flow from vocalists and instruments is crucial for understanding sound production.
• Traditional methods may lack real-time, whole-field capabilities.
• Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI) is a powerful optical technique for measuring surface deformations and vibrations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel method for visualizing air flow dynamics from human mouths and wind instruments.
• To adapt Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI) for flow visualization.
• To demonstrate the utility of the developed method for scientific and pedagogical purposes.

Main Methods:

• Modification of standard Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (ESPI).
• Incorporation of interference using a transmitted object beam instead of a reflected object beam.
• Real-time, whole-field imaging of air flow patterns.

Main Results:

• Successful visualization of air flow patterns from vocalists and wind instruments.
• Generation of high-quality, real-time interferometric images.
• Demonstration of the method's applicability in diverse acoustic scenarios.

Conclusions:

• The modified ESPI technique offers a valuable new tool for air flow visualization.
• The method provides real-time, whole-field data suitable for scientific analysis.
• This technique has significant potential for educational demonstrations in acoustics and voice science.