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jayprints t1_je2cyo2 wrote

I know that wind tunnel testing will use lasers to track velocity by incorporating a seed material, a very fine material that can closely follow the fluid flow. One version of it is called DPIV (Digital Particle Image Velocimetry). And if you know velocity and are willing to make some assumptions, you can get pressure and density from this.

If this isn’t what your referring to, another is a Laser Barometer. Uses laser radiation to sense the change in a gas’ refraction index. This can give you atmospheric pressure.

Schlieren photography is another good example of using light to determine the density gradients of a fluid flow. This one I don’t think is technically lasers.

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Lazz45 t1_jduu11i wrote

Regarding measurement, lasers are useful vs. standard light because lasers can have a specific wavelength or very tight wavelength range. You can then build a reciever that is only looking for THAT specific wavelength/s (either direct or from a reflection).

Also the light from lasers is directional, meaning the light is all directed in the same orientation, hence why lasers are a beam and not diffuse like a flashlight

Lasers can also be used in safety systems (and standard systems) as a "plane" that when broken (meaning something has passed into the beam of the laser, disrupting its unaltered flow to the reciever), it triggers something (like a shutdown, an arm to pick up the object, etc.

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