Realization of an Instrument to Measure Temperature and Concentration Gradients in Fluids

摘要

The point diffraction interferometer (PDI) was chosen as candidate for an interferometer to be used for fluid studies in low gravity. The PDI has a minimal number of elements, it is a self referencing interferometer, and therefore it is intrinsically very stable, and can be easily transformed into a high quality Schlieren system. It is suitable for a self aligning scheme. The optical layout, optical and mechanical compoments, the sensor, the servoloop electronic scheme, the recording system, and the test cell are described. A user manual and interferograms of fluid mixtures are presented.