We are using planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) to visualize flows and quantitatively measure temperature in shock tube flow fields. This highly sensitive and accurate method uses toluene as a fluorescence tracer. The technique has been used to the study of complex supersonic flows, specifically the interaction of a moving shock with a wedge. Measured temperatures agreed well with results of numerical simulations in all inviscid regions, and all pertinent features of the single Mach reflection were resolved.
Figure 1. Left: PLIF signal image of an incident shock traveling over a wedge. Single Mach reflection is visible as well as the diffraction effect in the incident shock wave transition when laser is introduced through the side window. Right: Schematic of a single Mach reflection, adapted from G. Ben-Dor (2007).