Use of optical methods in investigating MHD processes

A. G. Fedin

Abstract
A brief review of the literature on optical methods of investigating the flow of transparent liquids is presented. The main attention is devoted to investigating the possibilities of obtaining qualitative and quantitative data in MHD experiments using shadow devices and modern optical methods which make use of the specific properties of laser emission: laser interferometers, holography, and Doppler velocity measuring instruments. Photographs are presented which illustrate the possibilities of such methods in magnetohydrodynamics. It is concluded that the majority of the methods can be realized using the shadow technique.