We are developing an Ultrafast Schlieren Imaging System to study the evolution of various high-speed phenomena. The initial setup used a continuous-wave green laser to develop optical techniques. Heat flow from a soldering iron and air flow from an aerosol duster were used to test the apparatus (see below).

The system was then modified to incorporate the mode-locked output from the Ti:S oscillator as the light source.

Passing the laser output through a pulse-picker enables single pulse (~20 fsec) exposure. Then, the pre- and post-pulse contrast is improved by frequency doubling the laser light, ensuring very clean, ultrashort illumination.

The imaging system is shown below.