Optical instrumentation toward resolving mixing in micro-channels

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Flows on the nano and micro-scales are fundamental to the behavior and performance of a broad range of systems (e.g., membrane filtration, capillary blood flow and oil reservoirs), and understanding these flows is crucial to advancement in these fields. The proposed experimental research will apply the latest ideas and techniques in measurement science to these problems, in particular the characterizing of mixing processes on these small scales. Imaging techniques based on microscopy will be developed to measure the three components of velocity (3C) of the flow over the three dimensions of space (3D) as a function of time (1D). Principally aimed at deriving the full time resolved velocity field (3C4D), these techniques will also be extended to measure scalar properties of the flow in order to address mixing. Data of this type can be used to investigate new phenomenon, validate mathematical models and advance designs of current nano- and micro-devices. The overall aim of the program is therefore to develop the science of image-based measurement techniques for resolving fluid mixing in nano- and micro-fluidic flows.