Quantitative Schlieren Diagnostic Applied to a Nitrogen Thermal Plasma Jet

A quantitative interpretation of the schlieren technique applied to an atmospheric pressure, vortex-stabilized nitrogen thermal plasma jet generated in a direct-current nontransferred arc plasma torch (nitrogen gas flow rate of 25 NL/min, power level of 15 kW), discharging into ambient air is reported. A $Z$ -type, two-mirror schlieren system was used in the research. The technique allowed inferri...