Interferometric laser imaging for droplet sizing revisited: elaboration of transfer matrix models for the description of complete systems.

We report the development of an interferometric laser imaging for droplet sizing (ILIDS) numerical simulator. It is based on the use of generalized Huygens-Fresnel integrals associated to transfer matrices that describe the whole imaging setup. This simulator allows easy simulation of any kind of ILIDS setup. Simulations are shown to be in good agreement with experimental results. This simulator offers important perspectives in the design, realization, and calibration of ILIDS instruments, as airborne instruments, or in situ measurements in flows.