Frequency division multiplexing for interferometric planar Doppler velocimetry

A new method of acquiring simultaneously the signal and reference channels used for interferometric planar Doppler velocimetry is proposed and demonstrated. The technique uses frequency division multiplexing (FDM) to facilitate the capture of the requisite images on a single camera, and is suitable for time-averaged flow measurements. Furthermore, the approach has the potential to be expanded to allow the multiplexing of additional measurement channels for multicomponent velocity measurement. The use of FDM for interferometric referencing is demonstrated experimentally with measurements of a single velocity component of a seeded axisymmetric air jet. The expansion of the technique to include multiple velocity components was then investigated theoretically and experimentally to account for bandwidth, crosstalk, and dynamic range limitations. The technique offers reduced camera noise, automatic background light suppression, and crosstalk levels of typically <10%. Furthermore, as this crosstalk is dependent upon the channel modulations applied, it can be corrected for in postprocessing. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America