This volume is based on material prepared by the contributors to the symposium on "Progress in Gas Dynamic Research by Optical Methods", held on May 25-26, 1970 in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Syracuse University. The contents focus on experimental and analytical aspects of contemporary op tical methods as applied in modern research on high speed and/or high temperature gaseous flows. State of the art, recent research results and possible research applications of spectroscopy, spectral interferometry, pulse laser holographic interferometry, laser as a diagnostic and plasma generating tool and the analysis of plasma by light scattering constitute part of the subject matter of this vol ume. The emerging importance and impact of recent laser developments on optical diagnostics of gas dynamic and gas-physics phenomena is a recurring theme throughout the volume. Diverse applications of the shock tube to process gases to high temperature equilibrium conditions and the study of important char acteristics of these radiating gases by contemporary spectroscopic methods are discussed in papers by Nicholls, Wurster and Wares, et al. Refractivity index measurements have long been extensively used for investigating gas dynamic and aerodynamic flows. However, the recent availability of the laser as a light source has brought sig nificant improvements in the more conventional optical methods such as schlieren photography and interferometry as reported here in Alcock's paper. More recent laser developments have resulted in several com pletely new optical diagnostic methods.

Fluid Dynamics

Flow Visualization describes the most widely used methods for visualizing flows. Flow visualization evaluates certain properties of a flow field directly accessible to visual perception. Organized into five chapters, this book first presents the methods that create a visible flow pattern that could be investigated by visual inspection, such as simple dye and density-sensitive visualization methods. It then deals with the application of electron beams and streaming birefringence. Optical methods for compressible flows, hydraulic analogy, and high-speed photography are discussed in other chapters. With appropriate flow pictures, this book tries to distinguish the various methods and the range of their applicability by outlining the physical principles on which each method is based.