Integrating Pulsed High Power Light Emitting Diodes for Schlieren Imaging

This honors thesis describes the development of a light source for schlieren imaging that is based on pulsed high-brightness light emitting diodes. Schlieren imaging is an optical technique that enables the visualization of density gradients in flows. The work involves the customization and fabrication of the circuit for the purpose of imaging of supersonic wind tunnel flows and includes the design of the circuit enclosure and the integration of the lamp into the schlieren system. The final product is demonstrated in the High-Speed Wind Tunnel at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus at UT Austin. Several prototypes were tried, and the final design offers a safe, easy to use pulsed light source, which can be integrated into many schlieren systems.