Determination of shock wave velocity from photographs obtained using a polarization interferometer

A polarization shear interferometer is described in which one of the two images of the flow being studied is produced outside the interference field and serves as a shadow pattern. This image is recorded again using an additional light source — a pulsed laser. In this way one can determine the shock wave velocity and establish, on the basis of gas-dynamic relationships, the proper numeration of the interference fringes on the interferogram.