Color-encoded M-array Background Oriented Schlieren for measurements of strongly refracting objects

New variant of Background Oriented Schlieren (BOS) technique is proposed for the measurements of strongly refracting objects. The employed pattern presents a rectangular grid of color dots. Special color encoding makes every dot unique provided its nearest neighbors can be identified. This allows robust matching of the dot images for schlieren objects with arbitrary large apparent displacements. Also, possible formation of multiple images of the same dot due to strongly nonlinear variations of the refractive index can be used to improve the accuracy of the refractive index field measurement. Multi-frame approach is employed to improve the spatial resolution. Potential of the proposed technique is demonstrated by measurements of the diffusion layers in aqueous solutions of sodium chloride and ethanol. [Display omitted] •New modification of BOS with pattern composed of color dots is proposed.•Unique code is assigned to each dot based on colors of its neighbors.•M-array encoding allows measurements of arbitrary large displacements.•Spatial resolution is improved using multi-frame approach.•Formation of multiple images of the same dot provides extra displacement vectors.