Results of the dynamical tests of a special designed optical microstructure density probe based on the measurement of the refractive index

The authors describe their recent results of the evaluation of an in situ going refractive index sensor. This sensor allows them to determine the refractive index with a resolution of 5/spl middot/10/sup -7/ and a precision of 1/spl middot/10/sup -6/. Due to the principle of the method they are able to take measurements at a speed of 10000 samples/s. Comparisons were made to a high speed thermistor probe with a time constant of about 10 ms and a resolution of 0.1 mK. Both sensors were tested in a laboratory tank that was designed to test the dynamical behavior of in situ sensors. The results show the promising features of the authors' further developed refractive index sensor.