Rayleigh scattering measurements of the gas concentration field in turbulent jets

Abstract

A technique based on Rayleigh scattering has been developed to measure the concentration field in a cross section of a turbulent gas jet. Such measurements enable one to quantitativel y study turbulent mixing mechanisms and structures. A similar experiment was previously performed using Lorenz/Mie scattered light from aerosol particles introduced into the nozzle gas. The Rayleigh technique provides better spatial resolution, avoiding the limitations due to aerosol seeding, and in particular is capable of monitoring molecular diffusion, a fact which should be of importance in studying reactive turbulence.