Instantaneous density measurement in two-dimensional gas flow by high speed differential interferometry

The aim of this paper is to present an experimental set-up using a Wollaston prism differential interferometer producing up to twenty successive short exposure white light interferograms at a high framing rate. It is shown that, through optical component calibration, the interferograms can be analysed to yield the instantaneous density field. This method has been successfully tested in the two-dimensional unsteady flow generated by the interaction of a mixing layer and a cavity.