Abstract
A study is presented of the problem of thermally generated turbulence in cryogenic liquid bubble chambers and its effects on the photographically recorded positions of bubbles. Particular emphasis is laid on the optical distortion or root mean square fluctuation in position of light rays emerging from a turbulent fluid at low temperature. Previous work has concentrated on studies of temperature fluctuations in non-cryogenic fluids. Extrapolation is made to the low temperature region to predict turbulence parameters for the design of an experiment to measure optical distortions, turbulence eddy sizes and velocities in a model bubble chamber liquid in a state of thermal turbulence. An electro-optical probe system is described which was used to measure the parameters of interest and hence check the validity of the model used. Results of the study are presented and shown to validate the model and these are then used to predict conditions in a real bubble chamber situation. Dynamic effects arising from the cycling of the chamber are also considered. An improved design of the system for localised rather than path integrated measurements within the fluid, is described.