DROPLET PROFILES OBTAINED FROM THE INTENSITY DISTRIBUTION OF REFRACTION PATTERNS

Citation
Lp. Thomas et al., DROPLET PROFILES OBTAINED FROM THE INTENSITY DISTRIBUTION OF REFRACTION PATTERNS, Applied optics, 34(25), 1995, pp. 5840-5848
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Optics
Journal title
ISSN journal
00036935
Volume
34
Issue
25
Year of publication
1995
Pages
5840 - 5848
Database
ISI
SICI code
0003-6935(1995)34:25<5840:DPOFTI>2.0.ZU;2-Q
Abstract
A noninterferometric method for obtaining profiles of axially symmetri c transparent liquid droplets is described. The drops are illuminated along the symmetry axis by a uniform parallel beam whose intensity dis tribution is recorded at the focal plane of a lens placed behind the d rop. In some conditions and within the geometrical optics approach, it is possible to reconstruct the profile of the drop from this intensit y distribution except for the length scale factor, which, if necessary , may be provided by an additional simple measurement. Because of CCD cameras and digital image processing, this method is an interesting al ternative technique for measuring drop profile shapes with considerabl e accuracy when interferometry is unwieldy. We also analyze the diffra ction features of the intensity distribution to clarify the extent tha t they affect the approach that we used and to establish additional in formation that they may provide.