A silicon strip detector system for high resolution particle tracking in turbulence

We describe a high speed imaging system that is used to track tracer partic les in highly turbulent flows. The system uses silicon strip detectors desi gned for high energy physics experiments and is capable of reading two dete ctors at a frame rate of 70 kHz. Each detector contains 512 strips and meas ures a one-dimensional projection of the light striking it. The position me asurements from this system have a dynamic range of 6400:1. Extensions to h igher frame rates and more detectors are possible. We describe the detector s, readout system, supporting systems, and give an evaluation of the measur ement accuracy. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.