Measurements of Surface Deformation in Highly-Reflecting Liquid-Metals

Abstract : We present an experimental study of surface deformation in a liquid metal. The investigation has two main parts. First we present an optical setup allowing to obtain the surface profile along a line, for a highly-reflecting liquid-metal. We track the diffusion of a laser sheet on the surface from two opposite angles, avoiding saturations due to specular reflection. In the second part, the technique is used to study some aspects of the wave-vortex interaction problem. Special attention is given to the surface deformation produced by a flow composed by moving vortices. Asymmetric height statistics are observed and discussed. Some indications of wave emission are presented. Finally, the attenuation of propagating waves by the same flow is briefly discussed.