Optical Turbulence Sensor

SpectraScan (SPSC) proposes to develop a new generation of turbulence and scattering sensors. The units will use a laser-CCD set-up for real-time determination of turbulence and scattering properties in the ocean for naval operations. Other uses areenvisioned for industrial and bio-medical applications. The sensors will be configured as independent working units, however capable of integration into packages of sensors according to the needs of the user. The sensors array will be compacted, rugged,accurate, sensitive and self-calibrating. Based on the principle conceived by SPSC during Phase I, we will design, fabricate, assemble, test and validate the data from the prototypes. Working prototype units are expected to be delivered at the end ofPhase II. Activities, such as market research and partnership consolidation, which will support commercialization of the sensors will be continued. The devices for turbulence (OTS) and scattering measurements (forward-backward - VSF), are to provide abroad range of applications within the military and industry. Both systems will generate data that will contribute to increase the operational efficiency of military devices such as lidar systems.BENEFITS: The importance and utility of these measurements expands beyond oceanographic applications. The optical sensors and methods we describe can also be applied to other fluid flows. It requires only the presence of a passive scalar (for exampletemperature in oceanic flows) advected with the flow which affects the speed of light in the fluid. All passive scalars that modify the fluid density also modify the light speed in the fluid and thus contribute in forming the turbulent inhomogeneitiesmeasured. The potential applications for such a sensors, range from monitoring fuel mixing in engines to process control sensing in pharmaceuticals manufacture, to water sanitation and drinking plants.