Short Pulse Holographic Interferometric Reconstruction Three-Dimensional Flow Field Sensor

To address the U.S. Air Force need for new diagnostic technique for high speed flows, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Short Pulse Holographic Interferometric Reconstruction (SPHIRE) three-dimensional sensor based on short pulse light-in-flight holographic recording of the temporal sequence of a flow field. The proposed sensor will overcome the limitations of current point sensors for 3D flow field measurement, because SPHIRE is a full-field 3D optical sensor with light-speed holographic recording of an event in thousands of temporal sequence images. From these images, a highly sensitive holographic interferometric analysis can determine the temporal and 3D spatial distribution of pressure/velocity of the high speed flow field. The holographic image recording will be in real time on an erasable holographic thermoplastic thin-film recording medium in a ruggedized camera system, possibly with a fiber optic light guide and compact optics. In Phase I POC will design a SPHIRE sensor system, analyze its performance, and demonstrate the proof-of-concept by laboratory experiments. In Phase II POC will fabricate a SPHIRE system and integrate it with data collection and 3D reconstruction software. POC will demonstrate a SPHIRE prototype at an Air Force test tunnel.