Refractive index profiling across a candle flame using speckle techniques

Refractive index profiles have been obtained at different heights in the region above a candle flame both theoretically and experimentally by means of double and multiple exposure speckle photography. Improved fringe visibility has been achieved in the case of the multiple exposure technique giving rise to accurate measurement of the refractive index. Theoretical analysis shows that the resulting speckle pattern is equivalent to the ordinary pattern convolved with a function representing the effect of light deflection, while the interference pattern obtained is modulated by a background representing the autocorrelation function of the diffuser.