Hi - I am seeking some information or answers regarding feasibility of modeling non-uniform refractive indicies in the following scenario.  I have a cavity with fluid flowing through it at steady state; the beam passes through this cavity as well.  The fluid flow analysis predicts variations in fluid properties throughout the cavity's volume and therefore variations in refractive indicies.

So my question:  Is it possible, in some way, to model the spatially dependent refractive indicies, which are somewhat irregular because they are not symmetric (e.g. rotationally) or easily characterized by a simple axial or radial equation.  Essentially, I'm wondering if I can discretize the volume, like an FEM-type analysis.  Is this feasible or practically possible?  How about DLLs?

Regards,

Colin