Abstract and subjects
Laser Doppler velocimetry, also known as photonic Doppler velocimetry (PDV), is a diagnostic commonly used in shock compression experiments. To quantitatively compare experimental results to computational results, the uncertainty in the velocimetry measurements must be well characterized. That is, we must know which features in the experimental data are statistically significant and which are not. In this contribution, we will present recent work on understanding the resolution, precision, and accuracy of PDV measurements. We will discuss how the uncertainty is a function of signal strength, noise, and signal digitization, and how the uncertainty is influenced by the analysis method. We will show how knowledge of uncertainty can be used to rigorously compare experiment with computational predictions.