Water immersion single-mirror schlieren imaging system for flow visualization

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Saxena, Shubham, Kumar, Manish
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2026
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author Saxena, Shubham
Kumar, Manish
author_facet Saxena, Shubham
Kumar, Manish
contents Schlieren imaging is a popular optical technique for visualizing flow in transparent media. In-water high-sensitivity flow visualization, using schlieren imaging, is usually performed with a large-footprint two-mirror z-configuration. Here, we present a small footprint, easy-to-implement, single-mirror schlieren imaging system for in-water flow visualization. The same system is capable of high-sensitivity flow visualization in air as well. At its core, our system uses a concave mirror with water immersion. We present theoretical analysis and experimental results to show that this water immersion helps reduce the system's footprint by 25%. Our water immersion-based single-mirror schlieren imaging method additionally reduces mirror surface artifacts, increasing the sensitivity of flow visualization. This technique enables a low-cost schlieren system, as demonstrated experimentally using an inexpensive concave mirror. We also provide the experimental validation of high sensitivity in-water flow visualization for some transparent chemicals or solutions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_19247
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Water immersion single-mirror schlieren imaging system for flow visualization
Saxena, Shubham
Kumar, Manish
Fluid Dynamics
Optics
Schlieren imaging is a popular optical technique for visualizing flow in transparent media. In-water high-sensitivity flow visualization, using schlieren imaging, is usually performed with a large-footprint two-mirror z-configuration. Here, we present a small footprint, easy-to-implement, single-mirror schlieren imaging system for in-water flow visualization. The same system is capable of high-sensitivity flow visualization in air as well. At its core, our system uses a concave mirror with water immersion. We present theoretical analysis and experimental results to show that this water immersion helps reduce the system's footprint by 25%. Our water immersion-based single-mirror schlieren imaging method additionally reduces mirror surface artifacts, increasing the sensitivity of flow visualization. This technique enables a low-cost schlieren system, as demonstrated experimentally using an inexpensive concave mirror. We also provide the experimental validation of high sensitivity in-water flow visualization for some transparent chemicals or solutions.
title Water immersion single-mirror schlieren imaging system for flow visualization
topic Fluid Dynamics
Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.19247