Abstract

Temperature inhomogeneities in free, isotropic turbulence have the effect of scattering light in near-forward angles. We investigate numerically modifications of free turbulence by a rigid wall and its effect on the propagation of light through turbulence. The wall is a 5 cm optical window placed at the leading edge of an instrument towed with speeds of 0.1 and 1 m/s in free turbulence. The turbulent flow field presents inhomogeneities of an embedded passive scalar (Pr = 7, temperature in water), which are modified by the boundary layer developing on the window. We find that the developing laminar boundary layer has a negligible effect on light scattering for the investigated geometry when considered in terms of the volume-scattering function (differential cross section). This indicates that the boundary layer is not an obstacle for optical measurements of turbulence.

© 2005 Optical Society of America

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