Schleiren Photography

Introduction

Fluids are everywhere . The advancements in modern technology demands the need
to understanding the behaviour of fluids. Although various theories and few
legendary equations like the naiver - stokes equation gives us a powerfulll tool to
analyse the behaviour of fluids, the best way to be sure of that we do is through
optical perceptions.Hence visualising fluid flow is an essential component in the
design and development of the modern world.

During the early days, scientists and engineers used an less intuitive “shadowgraph”
To analyse fluid flows. although Schlieren imaging techniques exploit the same
physical principles as the shadow graph (namely , dependence of refractive index,
speed of light on density), the method of Schlieren photography is extremely intuitive
to an extent, pressure and temperature variations can directly be seen through naked
eyes without any processing , with the correct Schlieren setup.

The word Schlieren itself derives from the German word schliere, or striae, and refers
to the streak-like appearance of fluid flow visualised through the system .
Rudimentary Schlieren techniques have been implemented for far longer than
scientists have been given credit for. Although most sources cite schlieren optical
techniques as originating in the 19th century, notable observations of Schlieren
techniques were discussed as early as the 17th century by Robert Hooke, who
presented his findings before the Royal Society and discussed his work in the book
Micrographia, and Christiaan Huygens, who concurrently developed a Schlieren
technique to visualise veins, or striae, in optical components . Leon Foucault, in the
mid-19th century, developed a knife-edge test for telescope mirrors which visualised
air-flow. Although he did not recognise it himself as a novel technique for optical
testing . The first to officially recognise and present the schlieren imaging technique
was August Toepler, who devised a functional apparatus for schlieren imaging as well
as an in-depth procedure on how to design a simple schlieren system. During the
early 20th century, Hubert Schardin conducted extensive research on the applications
of schlieren imaging systems, developing numerous new techniques, some of which
are only being explored today. Many physicists and fluid dynamic engineers applied
the techniques proposed by Toepler and Schardin to study shock waves from aircraft,
the mixing of liquids and gases, and applied colour filters to their systems to obtain
quantifiable data . These methods were largely advanced by the advent of modern
computer systems, which provided many novel techniques and algorithms for
capturing and quantifying Schlieren images.
 Types of Schlieren systems

Single mirror Schlieren System

double mirror Schlieren system

Single lens Schlieren system

Double lens Schlieren system

 The Technique of Schleiren imaging

The technique of schlieren imaging involves a source , which emits light through the
media ,a converging setup(either lenses , or , mirrors) , knife edge ,and a screen /
camera to capture the differentiated image formed through the gradients.
Various set up of optical instruments, with the same principles are given below

1- Lens Systems
Consider a slit at the source of width s. The beam of rays , passes through a general
point P , passes through the lens and converges at K.

The width of the beam of light at P’ is same as the size of the image at P’;
Then ,

image height = beam width image distance(b))

=
object height = slit width(s)) objaect distance(d ))
sb
Then , beam width(Io) =
d

If the light flux is uniform throughout the beam the proportion of the light through P
from S which reaches the screen at P' must be the ratio of the widths of the partially
bs
I d
−x
obscured and unobscured slit images. = , where x is the distance bound
Io bs
d

which knife projects beyond the axis.

If the beam of rays has an angular displacement α, and converges at P’ then it has
been found that 1 , the ratio of increment in P’ , compared with previous intensity,
ΔI c−b 2ad
= ⋅ ⋅α
I bs − 2d x c
Where a,b,c ,d are geometric parameters.

The above mentioned setup has its disadvantages too. Since its Field of coverage
depends the diameter of the lens, for study of large areas, this require inconveniently
large sizes of lenses. With large lenses, comes large defective effects. Since the
glasses itself must be free of refractive index gradients. Hence effects like chromatic
aberrations will unnecessarily complicate the analysis of the results

1Optical
Considerationsand Limitations of the SchlierenMethodG. 8.y

SPEAK, B.8C., D.I.C., and D. J. WALT~.gs, B.Sc., A.Inst.P

2- Mirror Systems
If the slit width is s, then its image will also have the same width . If the Knife edge is
projected a distance x over its axis, the the proportion of original light which passes
through the knife edge is given by
s
I 2
−x
= .
Io s

If the rays are deflected by a small angle α, through P, then , the image of slit will be
displaced by r ⋅ α , where r is the radius of the mirror;
Then ,
s
I′ 2
− (x − rα) ΔI r⋅α 2
= and. = s
I s I −x
2

2Optical Considerationsand Limitations of the SchlierenMethodG. 8.y

SPEAK, B.8C., D.I.C., and D. J. WALT~.gs, B.Sc., A.Inst.P

 Experimental implementation

Set Up

A single mirror co-incident Schlieren system was constructed. Our system has a led
light source with a structured pinhole, a concave mirror of focal length 150cm , a
razor blade to act as knife edge and a NIKON D3200 Camera to capture our results.

The Camera and the light source was placed at the focus of the concave mirror and
the razor blade was appropriately placed in front of the camera lens , till the point
results were visible on the camera screen.
Captured images
 Principles of schleiren photography

The principles of Schlieren imaging are based in the variation of density and hence ,
the refractive index along the medium . This variation of density can either be due to
temperature gradients or pressure gradients or both.

For knowing a quantitative model of Schlieren photography , it is necessary for us to

outline the rules governing Schlieren images and then systematically build a reliable
model. Firstly we need to know how does refractive index of a medium varies with
density. Then if we know the density gradient , we should be able to. predict the
deviations of light rays, and hence trace the image to an appreciable extent.

1-Variation of refractive index with density3

The earliest theory regarding this relation was established by Laplace , on the
μ2 − 1
emission theory which said = constant , where μ is the refractive index
d
and d being the density .This was supported by newton. He remarked: “if light be
shifter in bodies than in vac in proportion of sines, the forces of bodies to reflect and
refract are very nearly proportional to the densities of the same bodies, execpting that
unctuous and sulphurous bodies refract more than others of the same density .”

μ2 − 1
The electron theory(L.Lorentz) gave the relation , = constant .
(μ 2 + 2) ⋅ d

The only serious rival of this it Gladstone and Dale’s empirical relation, which was
μ−1
= constant.
d

3Mathews, I. M. (1914). Refractive index and density. Journal of the Franklin Institute, 177(6), 673–686. doi:10.1016/s0016-0032(14)90992-9 
The earliest experiments ,involved a glass prism, filled with air, whose density was
varied by varing the pressure. Not taking into accounts the effects of diffraction, the
above three relations were indistinguishable experimentally , since μ 2 − 1 and
μ2 − 1
only differ by numeric multiple of μ − 1 by terms of the order (μ − 1)2 . For
μ2 + 2

air for instance , μ − 1 = 0.0003 and hence, the variation is only about 9 ⋅ 10−8.

The first account of dispersion was done by Ketteler.4 He used Jamin Interferometer
with 2 different glass tubes between the plates and sodium, lithium and thallium as
his sources.

l = length of the tubes

λ1 is the wavelength of light in f irst tube
λ2 is the wavelength of light in second tube
λ0 is the wavelength of light in free space
Then, l = ν1 ⋅ λ1 = ν2 ⋅ λ2 //[say]

ν1 ⋅ λo ν ⋅λ
⟹ = 2 o μ1, μ2 being the respective refractive indices.
μ1 μ2
λo
∴ μ1 − μ2 = ⋅ (ν1 − ν2)
l

Ketteler then , varied the pressure of air that passed and counted the number of bands
that passed , ν1 − ν2 , and found that ν1 − μ2 ∝ p2 − p1 and for all pressures ,
assuming Boyles law

4 Mathews, I. M. (1914). Refractive index and density. Journal of the Franklin Institute, 177(6), 673–686. doi:10.1016/s0016-0032(14)90992-9 
μ1 − μ2
= constant. if one of the tubes is. evacuated , this ultimately becomes,
d1 − d2
μ−1
= constant. Kettlar then used carbon-di-oxide, cyanogen, hydrogen to Get
d
the same results.

Mascart5 , then performed more accurate experiments , using sodium lights and
Fizeau’s Biplanes to observe Talbot Bands.When he varied pressure , with
temperature constant, he found out that,

p1 + p2
μ1 − μ2 = a ⋅ ( p1 − p2) ⋅ (1 + b ⋅ ) a, b are constants .
2

b
According to Regnault , d = Ap(1 + Bp) and Mascart found that , = B at
2
constant temperatures for wide range of pressures. Hence standing with
μ−1
= constant.
d

μ−1
Therefore for a reasonable degree of approximation the relation , = constant
d
can be used for our purposes

5 Mathews, I. M. (1914). Refractive index and density. Journal of the Franklin Institute, 177(6), 673–686. doi:10.1016/s0016-0032(14)90992-9 
Relation between deflection angle and refractive index variations

Analysis from Wave-front consideration

We star by assuming a negative refractive index

∂μ
gradient , < 0 and assume no gradient in x
∂y

or z directions .
Let a planar light wave , initially vertical .
Becomes displaces after propagation through a
Schlieren object.

Let it cover a differential distance , ∂z in differential time ∂t, and get refracted
through a differential angle , ∂ϵ.

If μ is the refractive index ,c is the speed of light in vacuum and v is the speed of
light in the given medium , then,
From the figure , we can see that,

c c
μ2
− μ1 μ
Δϵ = ⋅ Δt, and we also know that , Δt = Δz ⋅ . Now combining these
Δy c

two equations and simplifying the terms, we get:

μ μ − μ2
Δϵ = ⋅ 1 ⋅ Δz
μ1 ⋅ μ2 Δy
Δϵ μ μ − μ2
⟹ = ⋅ 1
Δz μ1 ⋅ μ2 Δy
 n 1
Now , if we let all the differences approach 0 ( lim )and simplifying to , we
Δ→0 n1n2 n

get6
dϵ 1 dμ
=
dz μ dy

And hence, for a Ray, net deviation in angle can be found by integrating ,
1 ∂μ
∫ μ ∫ ∂y
∂ϵ = ϵy = ∂z

now from the equations ,

μ−1
= constant, (where μ is the refractive index.),
d
1 ∂μ
∫ μ ∫ ∂y
∂ϵ = ϵy = ∂z (where ϵy is the net angle of

deviation)

6PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES OF SCHLIEREN IMAGING SYSTEMS

Amrita Mazumdar
Analysis form light as ray considerations

Let Consider a co-ordinate system, O(x ,y ,z) , Where the z direction being the axis of
Schlieren system, in the disturbance region .

Let the refractive index at any point be defined by μ(x, y, z) = K.

Let an incident ray be parallel to the z axis.

Its direction ratio will be < 0,0,1 > . After passing through a small element of the
system , let the direction ratio change and say it is < δα, δβ,1 > . If the point of
incidence of ray is , (x, y, z),
the normal to the surface given by μ(x, y, z) = k at this point (x, y, z), has direction
ratios < x1, y1, z1 > , then , co-ordinate geometry tells us that

∂μ ∂μ ∂μ
< x1, y1, z1 > ∝ < , , >
∂x ∂y ∂z

∂μ ∂μ ∂μ
⟹ < x1, y1, z1 > = < n ⋅ ,n ⋅ ,n ⋅ > , where n is a
∂x ∂y ∂z
constant of proportionality.

By the laws of refraction , “ the incident ray the normal ray , and the refracted ray
all lie in the same plane “ .
 ∂μ ∂μ ∂μ
Then we can tell that, < 0,0,1 > , < ∂α, ∂β,1 > , < n ,n ,n > are
∂x ∂y ∂z

coplanar

If they are coplanar vectors , then

0 0 1
δα δβ 1
Δ= =0
∂μ ∂μ ∂μ
n ∂x n ∂y n ∂z

Expanding the determinant and simplifying, we get,

∂μ ∂μ
δα ⋅ = δβ ⋅
∂y ∂x

Let θ be included angle between the incident ray and the normal, and θ′ be the
included angle between the refracted ray and the normal.
Let the refractive index of the medium change from μ to (μ + δu) across an small
element of our 3d space , then we have,

∂μ
cos(θ) = n
∂z

∂μ ∂μ ∂μ
cos(θ′) = nδα ⋅ + nδβ ⋅ +n (from dot product)
∂x ∂y ∂z

μ ⋅ sin(θ) = (μ + δmu) ⋅ sin(θ′) (snells law)

Squaring μ ⋅ sin(θ) = (μ + δmu) ⋅ sin(θ′) and neglecting the higher powers of δμ
yields us,

δμ
(1 − cos 2θ) ⋅ (1 − 2 ) = 1 − cos 2θ′
μ

δμ
⟹ cos 2θ′ = cos 2θ(1 + 2 tan 2θ)
μ

∂μ ∂μ ∂μ ∂μ
If we substitute cos(θ) = n , cos(θ′) = nδα ⋅ + nδβ ⋅ +n , in the
∂z ∂x ∂y ∂z

equation
δμ
cos 2θ′ = cos 2θ(1 + 2 tan 2θ), we get ,
μ

2 2 ∂μ
∂μ ∂μ ∂μ ∂μ ∂μ [1 − n ( ∂z ) ]
nδα = + nδβ ⋅ +n = n [1 + ]
∂z ∂y ∂z ∂z μ ∂μ
n ( ∂z )
2 2

∂μ ∂μ
Substituting δβ from δα ⋅ = δβ ⋅ in the above equation and dividing through
∂y ∂x
by n , yields us,

∂μ ∂μ
∂μ ( ∂y )2 ∂μ 1 − (n ∂z )
2
δα[ + ]=
∂x ∂μ μ n2
∂μ
∂x ∂z
 ∂μ ∂μ
1 − (n ∂z )2 1 ∂μ 1 − (n ∂z )
2
⟹ δα ⋅ ∂μ =
n2 ( ∂x ) μ ∂μ
n 2 ∂z

And hence the complete equation may be re written as,

∂μ
δα ( μ
) 1 ∂μ
= ⟹ δα = δz
∂μ
( ∂x )
∂μ
( ∂z ) μ ∂x

∂μ ∂μ 1 ∂μ
And hence , from δα ⋅ = δβ ⋅ we also get , δβ = δz
∂y ∂x μ ∂y

z1 z1
1 ∂μ 1 ∂μ
∫z μ ∂x ∫z μ ∂y
α= dz , β = dz
0 0

where , the disturbance region starts from z0 and ends at z1 .

Hence, With proper measurement of deflections of light ray from source , the
refractive index distribution and hence the density distribution is procured . This is
one of the major application of schleiren photographic technique.
Let us see one example .

∂μ ∂μ
Consider an cylindrical field around the z axis so that μ, , are independent of
∂x ∂y

z, we get ,

∂μ μα ∂μ μβ
= and =
∂x z1 − z2 ∂y z1 − z2
Note: We have assumed the direction to be parallel to the z axis , and hence the
equations inherently possess simplicity … Assuming direction cosines < a, b, c > ,
by similar reasoning , it can be shown7 that

∂μ ∂μ
δμ [c ∂x − a ∂z ]
δα = ⋅
μ a ∂μ + b ∂μ + c ∂μ
∂x ∂y ∂z

∂μ ∂μ
δμ [c ∂y − b ∂z ]
δβ = ⋅
μ a ∂μ + b ∂μ + c ∂μ
∂x ∂y ∂z

7Optical Considerations and Limitations of the Schlieren Method

 Optimised conditions for scheiren photography8:

To capture air movements above a palm of a person, and a person yawning were
found out to be in the following conditions:
• 80% blockage in light by knife edge
• 10 cm from test area to the mirrior
• Higher the luminance provided by light source ,higher the quality
• It was also found that the ambient temperature had no effect on the image quality ,
rather it was the difference in the temperatures of test subject and the environment .
The larger the temperature differences a, caused higher air density gradients.

8 D Bunjong et al 2018 J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 1144 012097

 Limitations:
• Large size and poor portability of the system
• Poor field of view…however , for a larger field of view geometrically undesirable
sizes of mirrors and lenses would be required.
• Affected largely by diffraction phenomenon, hence minute details are lost in the
image.
Conclusion:

Principles and the techniques of schlieren photography was carefully studied and an
experimental set up of the theory studied was done and images which reflected
density gradient due to variations in temperature were captured through a digital
camera.