In situ LIF temperature measurements in aqueous ammonium chloride solution during uni-directional solidification

We present in situ whole-field measurements of the temperature field using laser-induced fluorescence in a study of bottom-chilled uni-directional solidification of aqueous ammonium chloride. We utilize a two-color, two-dye, ratiometric approach to address the significant spatial and temporal variations of laser sheet intensity field due to refractive index variations caused by the evolving concentration and temperature fields. In our work we take advantage of two temperature sensitive fluorescent dyes with opposite temperature sensitivities in order to increase the overall sensitivity and temperature resolution of the measurements. The resulting temperature sensitivity (about 4% K⁻¹) is more than a factor of two higher than the original work of Sakakibara and Adrian (Exp Fluids 26:7–15, 1999) with a sensitivity 1.7% K⁻¹. In situ measurements of the temperature field during solidification are presented, along with temperature characteristics of some of the complex flow features, such as plumes and fingers.