title: Rainbow refractometry: simultaneous measurement of temperature, refractive index, and size of droplets.
abstract: The capabilities and limitations of rainbow refractometry, specifically the minimum measurable droplet size and the errors in the refractive index (temperature), have been studied. We evaluate what we believe is a new method of indirectly applying the Lorenz-Mie theory to rainbow refractometry. The results show that this new method reduces the errors and eliminates the biases that may occur if the Airy theory is used. A more precise method to filter the high-frequency oscillations associated with the measurement signals was developed. Finally, it was discovered that the errors associated with rainbow refractometry are such that a single droplet measurement is unreliable. A mean refractive index should be determined on the basis of multiple droplet measurements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213-3800, USA. drjh4x@yahoo.com
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hom
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chigier