Holographic correlation velocimetry: measuring 3D fluid flows

Described in this thesis is an innovative method for measuring three dimensional (3D) velocity of a fluid at high speed, by combining a correlation-based approach with inline holography. While this method utilises tracer particles contained within the flow, the method does not require the reconstruction of individual particle fields. This is an advantage as less data is needed to acquired the same information as traditional methods. The method is also simpler to implement in an experimental setup. The Thesis outlines the theory behind the method, which has been termed Holographic Correlation Velocimetry (HCV), and subsequently demonstrates the application to both synthetic and laboratory data. This system is based on in-line holography and as such is very efficient with regard to the use of light, as it does not rely on side scattering as most other particle based approaches do. This efficiency could be utilised to create a very high quality system at a modest cost. Additionally, this efficiency significantly reduces the required exposure time, allowing measurement of high-speed flows, which is essential in dynamic systems such as industrial particle production. Other industry were this method include Natural Gas and Coal energy production, Biological cell culturing in Bioreactors or other systems and Blood flow with associated hemodynamics.