An implementation of a Schlieren method with convergent beams to obtain sub-nanoseconds photographs is presented. The arrangement minimizes optical components and use lithographic films to record the pictures. The Schlieren sensitivity reaches 0.18 mrad with a slightly convergent beam. The beam is generated by a nitrogen laser that supplies a sub-nanosecond pulse required, for example, in plasma diagnostics. The system has been sued in plasma research and also in experimental undergraduate courses. Finally, some resolving criteria and applications are discussed.

Date Published: 14 August 2001
PDF: 4 pages
Proc. SPIE 4419, 4th Iberoamerican Meeting on Optics and 7th Latin American Meeting on Optics, Lasers, and Their Applications, (14 August 2001); doi: 10.1117/12.437074

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4419:
4th Iberoamerican Meeting on Optics and 7th Latin American Meeting on Optics, Lasers, and Their Applications
Vera L. Brudny; Silvia A. Ledesma; Mario C. Marconi, Editor(s)