Flow Visualization and Density Determination above a Delta Wing by Means of Planar Intensity Distribution of Rayleigh Scattered Laser Light in the Transonic Wind Tunnel Göttingen

In order to show whether Rayleigh scattering from gas molecules of a wind tunnel flow field is applicable for the acquisition of density data in the case of aerodynamically relevant flow problems, initial tests in a Ludwieg Tube at a Mach number 6.8 have been performed. Based on the experiences during these first tests, the quantitative determination of the density field above a delta wing has been performed at Mach numbers between 0.5 and 1.4 in the transonic wind tunnel of the DLR Gottingen, Three-dimensional density fields with a resolution of about 1% have been obtained