Confocal backscatter laser velocimeter with on-axis sensitivity.

A confocal backscatter laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) that measures two velocity components has been developed. This device requires only two incident beams polarized normally to one another. Moreover, the velocity components sensed are nearly orthogonal. The velocimeter employs a combined dual-scatter, local oscillator arrangement to obtain the bidirectional sensitivity. Two photodetectors are used, each sensing only one Doppler frequency proportional to one of the very nearly orthogonal velocity components. In addition, a single Bragg cell serves to frequency bias both velocity components in order to eliminate directional ambiguity. A differencing technique has also been incorporated to enhance the dual-scatter Doppler signal corresponding to the transverse velocity.