When a heated pipe is rotated, the dynamics of the gas inside exhibit properties reminiscent of a solid-state positive lens. The properties are a result of a parabolic distribution of refractive index in the pipe which is caused by mixing of hot and cold gases. When a laser beam was propagated along the pipe’s axis a focal spot was observed. Experimental data to demonstrate how the lensing properties depend on pipe rotation speed and pipe temperature is presented. A numerical model using the basic equations of a Graded Refractive INdex (GRIN) lens provides a further tool to analyse the propagation of laser beams through this system
Reference:
Mafusire, C, Forbes, A, Snedden, GC et al, 2006, Gas lensing in a heated spinning pipe. 51st Annual Conference of the SAIP, University of the Western Cape, South Africa, 3-7 July 2006, pp 1
Mafusire, C., Forbes, A., Snedden, G. C., Mahlase, A. C., Michaelis, M., & Mathuthu, M. (2006). Gas lensing in a heated spinning pipe. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3010
Mafusire, C, A Forbes, Glen C Snedden, Andrew CK Mahlase, MM Michaelis, and M Mathuthu. "Gas lensing in a heated spinning pipe." (2006): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3010
Mafusire C, Forbes A, Snedden GC, Mahlase AC, Michaelis M, Mathuthu M, Gas lensing in a heated spinning pipe; 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3010 .
