Eliminating background noise effect in micro-resolution particle image velocimetry

A novel method is developed to improve the accuracy of micro-resolution particle image velocimetry (PIV) in microfluidics measurements. This method utilizes the Laplacian of Gaussian method and image-processing techniques to eliminate the background scattering noise. A high signal-to-noise ratio image has been obtained. This technique is especially. suitable for improving micro-resolution PIV in micro, two-, or multiphase flow conditions, such as for submicron bubbly flow measurements in a microchannel. The method can easily be implemented with minimal modification of the conventional PIV system. The results of simulation and experiments demonstrated the feasibility of this, to our knowledge, new method. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America