Feasibility of Rayleigh Scattering Flow Diagnostics in the National Transonic Facility

Abstract

Laser-based Rayleigh light scattering (RLS) was performed in the National Transonic Facility (NTF) at NASA Langley Research Center. The goal was to determine if the free-stream flow undergoes clustering (early stage of condensation from gas to liquid) or remains in a pure diatomic molecular phase. Data indicate that clusters are not observable down to levels of 10% of the total light scatter for a variety of total pressures at one N2 cryogenic-mode total temperature (Tt = -50 F = 227 K) and one air-mode temperature (Tt = +130 F = 327 K). Thus RLS appears viable as a qualitative or quantitative diagnostic for flow density in NTF in the future. Particles are distinguished from optically unresolvable clusters because they are much larger and individually resolvable in the laser beam image with Mie scattering. The same RLS apparatus was also used, without modification, to visualize naturally occurring particles entrained in the flow for both cryogenic and air-modes. Estimates of the free-stream particle flux are presented, which may be important for interpretation of laminar-to-turbulent boundary-layer transition studies.