Application of holography to the study of helicopter rotor flow fields

The feasibility of an experiment which is intended to measure the density field about a model helicopter rotor using holographic interferometry is considered. The numerical simulation used to study the experiment is described as well as the measurement technique itself. Data generated by the simulation are presented and prospects for both determining the density field from these data, and for actually obtaining such data in practice are assessed. A few significant problems which may be expected to arise are indicated and discussed.