Ballistic imaging of the liquid core for a steady jet in crossflow.

A time-gated ballistic imaging instrument is used to obtain high-spatial-resolution, single-shot images of the liquid core in a water spray issuing into a gaseous crossflow. We describe further development of the diagnostic technique to improve spatial resolution and present images and statistics for various jets under crossflow experimental conditions (different Weber numbers). Series of these images reveal a near-nozzle flow field undergoing breakup and subsequent droplet formation by stripping. One can also detect signatures of spatially periodic behavior in the liquid core and formation of small voids during breakup.