Multiframe high-speed laser schlieren system for observations of prebreakdown phenomena in liquids in nanosecond region

Abstract

A six-frame high-speed laser schlieren system which has variable intervals from frame to frame has been developed. A ruby laser with a pulse duration of 5 ns is used as the light source. By means of this system, one can obtain a sequence of six schlieren pictures of an electrical discharge with one shot of the main laser. A time delay between two diagnostic pulses is 5-50 ns and can easily be changed. The applicability of the system is demonstrated for rapidly changing prebreakdown processes in liquid dielectrics in the nanosecond region.<>