Velocity measurements in a convective flow by holographic interferometry

A holographic interferometry technique has been developed that can be used to measure the three components of the velocity field in a whole plane of a fluid flow simultaneously. The light scattered from an illuminated fluid plane is recorded on a hologram. Several interferograms are obtained in the reconstruction of the hologram. Each interferogram is automatically analyzed and produces quantitative information about one velocity component. Parameters that affect the quality of the interferograms are analyzed. The technique is demonstrated in a Rayleigh-Benard convective flow. Holographic interferometry and particle image velocimetry techniques are compared. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.