MEASUREMENT OF CONDENSATION ONSET IN STEADY SUPERSONIC LAVAL NOZZLE-FLOW FOR THE MOLECULAR LASER ISOTOPE-SEPARATION PROCESS

A method based on laser light scattering is presented for the observat ion of the condensation of working molecules in a steady-state-flow su personic Laval nozzle operating in a closed loop. The distribution of scattered light from droplets formed by condensation along the flow di rection is measured from photographs to determine the point of condens ation onset. The temperature and density at the onset point are obtain ed from the values of static pressure based on the equations of isentr opic flow.