Abstract

If is well known that light atomic species such as oxygen and hydrogen atoms are fundamentally important in a wide variety of combustion-related processes, such as ignition, propagation, extinction, and chemical-flame reactions, because of their high reactivilies and diffusivities. Conventional optical detection of these light atoms by laser-induced fluorescence techniques is difficult for a variety of reasons. In particular, because the energy gap between the ground and excited electronic states of atomic H and O exceeds 10 eV the necessary optical resonance excitation wavelengths fall far into the UV. Therefore, techniques such as two-photon or multiphoton laser excitation methods are required for their detection. In recent years, several different laser spectroscopic techniques and schemes have been implemented for both the detection and diagnostics of these tight atoms in laboratory-type burner flames.

© 1991 Optical Society of America