Pulse Burst Images of 4:1 Elliptic Cone


The following images have been taken using the pulse burst laser system developed by the Applied Physics Group at Princeton University. 30-image sequences taken at 500 kHz allow us to visualize a small segment (60 microseconds) of the boundary layer evolution. Using a spanwise laser orientation at a fixed x-position, we visualize consecutive slices of the boundary layer in time. With the convection velocity and the "frozen flow" assumption, a 3-dimensional reconstruction in space is generated. More details...

Download a free copy of Quicktime movie player:


Centerline Structure (Rex=1.57E6)

Quicktime Movie


Flow moving out of image plane.

(28 frames at 500 kHz)

3D Images (Click on image for larger view)


Off-Axis Structure (Rex=1.57E6)

Quicktime Movie


Flow moving out of image plane.

(30 frames at 500 kHz)

3D Images (Click on image for larger view)


Traveling Wave Instabilities (Rex=0.87E6)

Quicktime Movie


Flow moving out of image plane.

(29 frames at 500 kHz)

3D Images (Click on image for larger view)


Turbulent Flow (Rex=2.46E6)

Quicktime Movie


Flow moving out of image plane.

(30 frames at 500 kHz)

3D Images (Click on image for larger view)