Long-range Schmidt-Cassegrain laser velocimeter for large wind-tunnel applications

A two-component dual-beam laser velocimeter is designed and fabricated for use in the NASA Ames 40 X 80 ft wind tunnel. The instrument design is predicated on the use of inexpensive, high quality, large-aperture Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope optics to perform both the laser beam focusing and scattered light collection functions. The instrument is configured to measure the streamwise and cross-stream components of velocity and enclosed in a streamlined optical assembly mounted on a two-dimensional traverse on the floor of the test section.