Self-Mixing Laser Anemometer

To address the Navy need, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop an innovative Self-Mixing Laser Anemometer (SMILA). This proposed system is based on intensity variation due to self-mixing interference in a diode laser cavity. The innovation in assembling three diode lasers in a specific geometry enables SMILA to measure three-component airflow velocity regardless of the relative angle between the laser and the direction of airflow. SMILA uses several individual flow velocity measurement modules mounted on a mast at two different locations away from the volume of interest. Each module measures three-component velocities within a wind cell volume of 200 ft x 160 ft x 2 ft. Consequently, the SMILA system will be capable of concurrently measuring three-component airflow velocities throughout the entire volume of interest (400 ft x 160 ft x 40 ft) with spatial and frequency resolutions of 2 ft and 20 Hz, respectively. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of the SMILA system with one velocity measuring module to measure three-component velocities of airflow in a laboratory. In Phase II, POC plans to develop a shipboard-deployable SMILA prototype to be installed and tested in a Navy ship or similar platform recommended by the Navy.