Open AccessTemporal and spatial characterization of a pulsed gas jet by a compact high-speed high-sensitivity second-harmonic interferometer
Author(s) -
F. Brandi,
F. Giammanco
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.19.025479
Subject(s) - interferometry , optics , astronomical interferometer , physics , sensitivity (control systems) , mach–zehnder interferometer , materials science , electronic engineering , engineering
A compact modular high-speed high-sensitivity second-harmonic interferometer is used to characterize a pulsed gas jet. The temporal evolution of the line-integrated gas density is measured with a resolution of 1 μs revealing detailed information on its dynamics. The actual radial gas density distribution in the jet is obtained applying the Abel's inversion method. The sensitivity of the interferometer is 1 mrad, and its robustness, compactness and modularity make the instrument suitable for practical application. Possible use of the instrument in monitoring cluster formation, and phase-dispersion microscopy is discussed.