Tunable Solid-State Laser and High Resolution Digital Cameras for Lagrangian Vortex Imaging

摘要

This grant was for the purchase of a laser system and digital cameras. A Coherent Infinity XPO laser system has been acquired and installed at the Georgia Tech Low Speed Wind Tunnel as planned. A Roper Scientific ES 1.0 dual frame digital camera has been acquired to capture short-time-scale changes. and a Silicon Mountain Designs 6M3P digital camera was acquired to perform high- resolution imaging. Experiments to capture details of rotorcraft tip vortices using this system are proceeding as planned. To perform phosphorescence imaging, various food-grade phosphorescent materials have been selected and tested to capture time-scales of phosphorescence decay; these tests are continuing. Fiber- optic coupling of the beams from this laser was pursued. and fibers were successfully coupled to the beams for low power settings. This approach was temporarily abandoned in favor of an articulated mirror-tube system to enable operation with higher power levels and lower fiber attrition.