Digital Focusing Schlieren for Hypervelocity Ground Testing

We propose to adapt a revolutionary digital focusing schlieren imaging technology to hypervelocity ground testing. Spectabit's digital focusing schlieren approach has greatly improved a widely used aerodynamics tool and rendered it so robust, user friendly, and productive that it can be used in test facilities and environments that have been prohibitive before. We have identified several key adaptations to this technology which can make it applicable to the submicrosecond time resolutions often required in hypervelocity testing environments. Some of these adaptations may be useful in other high-speed imaging techniques by enabling the suppression of laser speckle. The digital schlieren concept represents the first major improvement in schlieren imaging in over 150 years, a true quantum jump in the technology. Conversion to digital obviates many of the long-standing problems with focusing schlieren systems that are associated with precisely matching the cutoff grid to the background light pattern. Because the system is digital, the control software can perform real-time image enhancement as well. Consequently, the most severe hardware production and alignment restrictions are now software problems that are solvable continuously, quickly, and inexpensively in real time. This capability enables the system to compute and compensate for imperfect windows and optics, optical aberrations, misalignments, and temporal changes in the system and subject.

Applications exist in all forms of aerodynamic research, development, and testing including problems associated with turbulent flow fields, boundary layers, shock waves, flow interactions, aero optics, flow control, drag, boundary layer transition, and flow separation. The technology enables application of extremely sensitive flow visualization in locations and applications that have been prohibitive before because of cost, environmental problems, and logistics.

This technique is especially useful for viewing large-scale phase objects in transparent media, which refract light but do not absorb or emit light. Potential commercial applications include aero-optics, flow diagnostics, flow-control, free-space laser communication, active laser imaging, high bandwidth video transmission, spectroscopy, and high-resolution imaging.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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