Quantitative measurement with the burst-mode laser Doppler anemometer.

The burst mode or individual realization laser Doppler anemometer is reviewed with attention to the manner in which the data are processed. The emphasis is on making quantitatively correct measurements so that corrections to the results are not necessary. Of particular importance are the residence time weighting and the manner in which the flow is seeded. Previous analyses are evaluated, and modest extensions are proposed. The well known criteria for analog signal processing are shown to have their counterparts for burst mode LDA signals. A detailed analysis of the effects of counter quantization errors on the measurements is presented. Also discussed are the effects of the polydispersity of the scatterers on the measurements.