Army Research Laboratory 

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005-5066 

ARL-TR-2378 January 2001 

Flame and Temperature Measurement 

Using Vibrational Spectroscopy 

Kevin McNesby 

Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, ARL 

Appsoved for public release; distribution is unlimited. 
Abstract 

An overview of the application of vibrational spectroscopy to the study of flames is provided. 

The mathematics of interpretation of flame spectra for determination of species concentration 

and temperature are introduced. The history of the application of vibrational spectroscopy to the 

study of flames is briefly summarized. Applications of methods using dispersive absorption and 

emission spectroscopy and of methods using tunable diode lasers (TDLs) to the study of flame 

systems are discussed. 

. 

ii 
Acknowledgments 

The author wishes to thank Dr. John Vanderhoff and Dr. Robert Daniel for kindly supplying 

figures &scribing their work and Prof. Ian Kennedy for several helpful suggestions toward 

improving the manuscript. 

. . . m 
~NTIONALLY LEFT BLANK. 

iv 
Table of Contents 

Acknowledgments ...~~~.~..~*~.~*....~..~...~~.......~..~...~*.*.......*..............~...**.................~..**.** .~- 

111 

List of Figures . . . . ..*............*.*.*..*~.........**.........*.........~..*...**................**.........**..*.. vii 

1. Introduction **...***~................*.....~.~.~ ..*.**.*..~....~~...~..~~....~....**..~***......~...~.~~...........*.**.* 1 

2. Background .,*.I**.....~..~.~.~..~....~.........,..*...................... .~~..L...,.~..*..*............~~~.~~.~~.....*~* 4 

2.1 Populatih Distribution Among Available Energy Levels ..f.....~.....~~***.*....*.**~*..* 6 

2.2 Absorption of Radiation .. . . . . . ..-.... e .. . . . . . . ..*.................... .~.~.**...***....*...........~~...~.~ 8 

3. Experimental Methods - Narrative . . . . . . . . . . . . ..*.**.*.*............. . . . ..~.*..*...~...*..*****.*.~...~.~~ 11 

4. Experimental Methods - Dispersive and Fourier-Transform Spectroscopy . . . . . 14 

4.1 Emission Measurements ...................................................................................... 14 

4.2 Absorption Measurements ................................................................................... 15 

5. Experimental Methods - Applications of Tunable Diode Laser Absorption 

Spectroscopy (TDLAS) .a* .*..*................. ..~...*~.f..................................~~..~*....*...*...**~ 18 

6. Conclusion .*~.*...*.*****..................... . ..~..**..*.**.*...*........*...... *,....*.~..*.*.,*...*...........* 24 

7. References ..*...***..**fl.........~.. . .. ..~..*..........***.............* . ..*...*..........*.*..*..................*.*.* 25 

Distribution List . ..~........*.~............**...*........~...,..~....ff......~......*..*.....~..~...............~~..~. 29 

Report Documentation Page .f~~............,,.........**~*......~.......~. . . ..~*....*....***.*.*.............~ 31 

v 
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vi 
List of Figures 

Figure 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

Potential Energy Diagram for a Diatomic Anharmonic Oscillator .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m . .. . . . . 

Radiation From an Ideal Blackbody at Several Temperatures l...~~.***..*.t...l.~~~.~.*.**.... 

The IR Emission Spectrum Measured Using an FI’IR Spectrometer From and 

l&Torr cH4/02 Flame and the Blackbody Radiation (1,173 K) Emitted Over the 

Same Region .........f....I. . ..f.ff.~f~f*.~......~~~~.~..*..~ . ..~f~~~.f***....*.....~ff.**..~~..*~.....l..*.**.***~~1. 

Calculated Transmittance of Light Through a Fixed Pressure of CO Gas at 

Different Temperatures ~.~~ff..l.***~.~~~..~~~.***.~ . . . . ..f.~f~~**.....~..~~~.~.**.~*.....~~*~.*.f***...**...f..~~ 

The IR Emission Spectrum Measured From a Premixed, Stoichiometric CH.&z 

Flame (Total Pressure 17 Torr) to Which 3% CF3Br Has Been Added ffff......*......... 

The Transmittance Specmnn of the First Overtone (v = 0 - 2) of CO . . . . . ..*............. 

Experimental Apparatus for Measurement of FI’IR Absorption Spectra Through 

Flames . ..*.*..**** *.*.*... . ..tt~~tt.t**..*....~~......*....** ..f~.fl.~.~f....***..*..~~~.~~~~..*...**.*......~~~..****... 

Mid-IR TDL Spectra of CO, Measured Through a Premixed CI&/& Flame, at a 

Total Pressure of 20 Torr, as a Function of Height Above the Burner Surface . . . . . . . . 

A Transmission Spectrum Measured Through a Iow-Pressure, Premixed CE&/Oz 

Flame at 20 Torr *.***..........*.**......* . ..~~..~....**.....ff~.~.f..~....**** . ..~~...~.~..................~...~.1 

Simulated Signal vs. Wavelength of Laser Radiation After Passing Through a 

Gas With an Absorption Feature Near 7665.5 cm-’ Graphs for (a) Unmodulated 

ILaser Radiation; (b) Laser Radiation With a Small-Amplitude, High-Frequency 

Modulation; and (c) Demodulation at Twice the High-Frequency Modulation 

in (b) *.** .. ..ff..f.... f . . . . . *. . . ..~~f~~*..*.~...~~~~~~~~.~..~.~. ..ff...~.~..~..******.............***.*.........~~..*..*... 

2 

4 

5 

11 

14 

16 

16 

18 

20 

21 

22 

vii 
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. . . 

VIII 
1. Introduction 

The application of modern spectroscopic analysis to the study of flames began in the 1920s 

and 1930s with breakthroughs in the understanding of atomic and molecular spectroscopy 

(Gaydon 1948). The earliest spectroscopic investigations focused on understanding the line and 

band structure observed in the visible and ultraviolet (UV) regions of the spectrum when the 

light from the flame was dispersed by a grating or prism. One of the great breakthroughs of 

physics during this period was the understanding that the band structure observed in the emission 

spectra of flames originated from gas phase molecular species (Hertzberg 1950a). 

For molecular species, understanding the appearance of flame spectra is simplified by 

assuming that the total internal energy, Er, of a gas phase molecule may be given to first order 

(Born-Oppenheimer approximation) as 

Here, Em, Em, and ERR are, respectively, the quantized electronic, vibrational, and rotational 

energy of the molecular species. In the scientific literature, these energies are usually expressed 

in terms of wave numbers (the reciprocal wavelength, expressed in centimeters, which is directly 

proportional to energy, and given the symbol cm-‘). Ah observed spectral features, in emission 

and absorption, are caused by changes in total energy, m-r, of the individual species present 

within the flame. Spectral features arise from the emission or absorption of a photon with energy 

corresponding to the difference between initial and final states of the transition. Figure 1 

illustrates the absorption of a photon corresponding to an electronic transition (Figure 1 [a]) and 

to a vibrational transition (Figure lb]) for a diatomic molecule whose interatomic potential 

energy may be approximated by an an harmonic oscillator (Hertzberg 195Oa). 

In general, changes in electronic, vibrational, and rotational energy correspond to emission or 

absorption of radiation in the visible (and UV), infrared (IR), and microwave region of the 

electromagnetic spectrum, respectively. Typically, &L > kEm > SRoT. Molecular changes 

1 
I 

B?D Electronic 

Transition 

AET = =EL +he + &o-r 

Vibrational 

Transition 

w Interatomic Distance (1 O-lo m) (b) 

Figure 1. Potential Energy Diagram for a Diatomic Anharmonic Oscillator. Electronic (a) 

and Vibrational (b) Absorption Transitions Are Illustrated. Values for 

Interatomic Distance, Energy (E), and Term Symbols Are for the Radical Flame 

Species CN. 

in EEL are generally accompanied by changes in E VIB and E~o-r, and changes in Em may be (and 

almost always are) accompanied by changes in E~or. These general trends are illustrated in 

Figure 1. The band structure observed in the visible and UV spectra of molecular species in 

flames, emission, and absorption is therefore understood to be the result of combined changes in 

electronic, vibrational, and rotational energies (Hertzberg 195Ob). 

The visible and W radiation from most flames usually accounts for less than 1% of the total 

emitted energy (Gaydon and Wolfhard 1953), with most of the energy emitted by a flame 

occurring in the JR region of the spectrum. To see why this is not unexpected, it is useful to 

compare the radiation emitted by a flame with the radiation emitted by a blackbody. In a system 

at thermodynamic equilibrium (which, on a macroscopic scale, a flame is not), the distribution of 

radiation is given by Planck’s blackbody radiation law (Penner 1959): 

2 
1~ = [2E&-5/(emT - l>J AdL (2) 

Here, 1~ is the wavelength-dependent radiant intensity normal to the surface of the radiator, EL is 

the emissivity at wavelength h, cl and c2 are the first and second radiation constants and have the 

values 0.588 x lo-* W/m2 and 1.438 x low2 m/K, respectively, T is temperature in Kelvin (K), 

and A is the area of the surface in square meters (m2). 

Figure 2 is a plot of equation (2) at several temperatures. Figure 2 shows that, for a 

blackbody radiator at temperatures up to 2,300 K, the peak spectral radiancy always occurs in the 

IR region of the spectrum. As the temperature increases ahove 2,300 K, the peak of spectral 

radiancy moves to shorter wavelengths (toward the visible region of the spectrum). It is 

important to note that, for a blackbody, the value of EL is equal to 1 at all wavelengths. In 

‘flames, the value of EL varies (and may approach 1) with wavelength, but is near 0 for most 

wavelengths, indicating that a flame is not a blackbody and that flame gases may not be in 

thermodynamic equilibrium. Nevertheless, in some cases where the emissivity of a flame 

species is known, measurements of spectral radiancy of flames may lx used to calculate flame 

temperatures to within an accuracy of several Kelvin (Gaydon 1974). 

When the regions of nonzero emissivity (EL > 0) in the flame emission spectrum are 

expanded along the wavelength scale, these regions exhibit detailed fine structure. In the visible 

and W regions of the flame emission spectrum (in general, radiation with a wavelength between 

1 pm and 200 nm), this fine structure represents changes in rotational and vibrational energy, 

which accompany changes in electronic energy. In the more intense IR region of the flame 

emission spectrum (in general, radiation with a wavelength between 1 and 30 pm), the observed 

fine structure is caused by transitions between rotational energy levels that occur with a change 

in vibrational energy but with no change in electronic energy. The amount by which the 

vibrational and rotational energies may change during a transition is governed by selection rules, 

which are largely dependent upon the symmetry of the species involved in the transition (Wilson 

et aL 1955). 

3 
. - . 

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 

Wavelength (micrometers) 

Figure 2. Radiation From an Ideal Blackbody at Several Temperatures. 

Figure 3 shows the raw emission spectrum from a premixed, reduced pressure (18 torr) 

stoichiometric Wa flame measured using a Fourier-transform infrared (FUR) spectrometer 

(McNesby et al. 1996) and the calculated emission from a blackbody at 1,173 K over the same 

spectral region. The peak temperature in this flame was measured (using a fine wire 

Pt-Pt/lO%Rh thermocouple) to be near 2,150 IL Comparison of flame emission spectra to 

calculated blackbody radiance must take into account the emissivity of the different species 

within the flame, reabsorption of emitted radiation by cold gases outside of the flame region, 

emission from species at different temperatures along the line of sight of the measurement, 

chemiluminescence, and the variation in sensitivity of the instrument detector with wavelength. 

Figure 3 illustrates that care must be taken when estimating flame temperatures from measured 

spectra, since results from simple fits of a blackbody radiation curve to a measured spectrum 

may be inaccurate. 

2. Background 

Emission and absorption spectra of flames may lx continuous or banded. Continuous 

emission spectra may lx modeled using the Planck blackbody equation (equation [2]). Modeling 

4 
2100 2600 3100 

Wavenumber (cm-l) 

7 

3600 4100 4600 

Figure 3. The IR Emission Spectrum Measured Using an FTIR Spectrometer From an 

l&Tom CWOz Flame and the Blackbody Radiation (1,173 K) Emitted Over 

-._ the Same Region, The IR Emission Spectrum Has Not Been Correct for the 

Responsivity of the Detector, 

of banded spectra requires an understanding of the statistics that govern the way the population 

of a species is distributed among available energy levels. It is the dependence of population of 

molecular energy levels upon temperature, and the influence of this population upon band shape 

and spectral emissivity and absorption, that makes vibrational spectroscopy a useful tool for 

flame diagnostics. 

The necessary mathematics for species and temperature measurements from IR spectra of 

flames are outlined next. The example given is for a diatomic molecule, such as do. It is 

assumed that the spectra are measured in absorption at low pressure, where the amount of light 

absorbed is less than approximately 5% of the incident intensity (often referred to as absorption 

in an optically thin medium). For extension to more complicated molecules (including more 

complicated diatomic molecules, such as NO) and to higher pressures, the reader should consult 

the texts referenced in the following sections. 

5 
2.1 Population Distribution Among Available Energy Levels. The classical 

Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution law may be used to approximate the distribution of population 

among the quantized energy levels of a gas phase diatomic molecule (Hertzberg 1950a). For 

most diatomic molecules (such as CO but not NO), each separate lineshape observed in the 

infrared spectrum corresponds to a simultaneous change in vibrational and rotational energy. For 

this reason, the spectral lines that make up the band structure observed in most IR spectra are 

often called rovibrational transitions. For purposes here, it is convenient to describe the initial 

and final energy levels of the transition as rovibrational energy levels. 

When describing two energy levels of a given species, the superscript ’ denotes the state of 

higher energy and the superscript ” denotes the state of lower energy. At thermodynamic 

equilibrium, the ratio of the number of molecules in the rovibrational energy level with 

vibrational quantum number Y’ and rotational quantum number J’ to the number of molecules in 

the rovibrational energy level with vibrational quantum number v” and rotational quantum 

number J” is given by 

N&NJ7V,VV7 = [(2J’ + 1)/(2J” + %)]exp(-(A& + hEJ) )hc/kT), (31 

where NrVp is the population of the higher rovibrational energy level; NJ’~,~” is the population of 

the lower rovibrational energy level; && is the change in vibrational energy (units of cm-‘); MJ 

is the change in rotational energy (units of cm-‘), which occurs during the transition; h is 

Planck’s constant; k is Boltzmann’s constant; and c is the speed of light. The quantity 

[(25’+1)/(2J”+l)] accounts for the degeneracy of rotational levels for a given value of J, 

providing a statistical weight to the levels with a given rotational energy. 

For interpretation of measured spectra, it is useful to know the fraction of the total population 

(NT) in the energy level from which the transition originates. For absorption (where the 

transition originates from the level of lower energy), this may be given by 

6 
7 

where the summation is over all values of J” and v” and NJS,~~ is the population in the 

rovibrational energy level with rotational quantum number J and vibrational quantum numbef v 

both equal to 0. The denominator on the right side of equation (4) may be written to a fist 

approximation as 

Z NJJNJ+~~= Z(2J + l)exp(-(Ev + BJ(J + l))hc/kT). (5) 

The Ikst rotational constant, B, is inversely proportional to the moment of inertia of the 

rotating molecule and determines the rotational energy level spacing. This means that, in 

general, the larger the mass of the rotating molecule, the closer is the spacing of the rotational 

energy levels. The right side of equation (5) may be factored into rotational and vibrational 

components: 

where Qr and Qv are, respectively, the rotational partition function and the vibrational partition 

function: 

QR = X(23 + l)exp(-B”J”(J” + l))hc/kT), (7) 

and 

Qv = Xexp( -E,“)hc/kT) . (8) 

The summations in equations (7) and (8) are over all J and all v, respectively. Substituting 

equations (3), (7), and (8) into equation (4) gives 

NryjN~ = (2r’ + l)exp(- (I$ + B”J”(r’ + 1) )hcKWQ&v. (9) 

Equation (9) shows how the fraction of total population in a given rovibrational energy level 

varies with temperature and rotational and vibrational quantum number. For most gas-phase 
diatomic molecules, if the population in a known rovibrational level is measurec& equation (9) 

allows the total population (and hence total pressure) of the gas to be calculated. 

2.2 Absorption of Radiation. The Einstein transition probability of absorption, B,, (not to 

k confused with the first rotational constant, B) predicts the energy removed (IR) from an 

incident beam of radiation by an optically thin layer of absorbers for a transition from a lower 

state, m, to an upper state, n, as (Steinfeld 1974): 

IR = bN,,-,B-Axhv,, (10) 

where N, is the number of molecules per unit volume in the energy level from which absorption 

occurs, Jo is the energy crossing unit area of absorbers per second, Ax is the absorber thickness, 

and V~ is the energy (in cm-‘) of the monochromatic radiation exciting the transition. In 

equation (lo), IoN,,,B, is proportional to the number of transitions per second per unit volume 

produced by the radiation and hv nm is proportional to the energy removed from the incident beam 

per transition QIertzberg 1950a). 

In an absorption experiment, the intensity of radiation exiting the absorbing medium, I, is 

described according to the Bougner-Hubert Law (later restated by Beer for solutions [Moore 

19721): 

I= Ioexp(- @vWmx), (11) 

where x is the path length traveled by the light through the absorbing medium and a(h) is called 

the cross section for absorption. This cross section represents the “effective area” that a 

molecule presents to the incident photons (Bernath 1995). When a(h)N,,,x is small (optically 

thin medium), equation (11) may be rewritten: 

IO - I = b(o(h)N,x). (12) 
Integrating equation (12) over the wavelength range for which the absorption may occur 

gives 

J(~o(h) - I&))&= J b(h)(@)Nmx) a. (13) 

The way in which the cross section for absorption (o(h)) varies with wavelength depends 

mainly upon the total pressure of the gas (Townes and Schawlow 1955). For gas pressures 

above approximately 100 torr, the absorption is observed to occur with a Lxentzian lineshape 

(Anderson and Griffiths 1975) given by 

o(h)Nr,,x = 2.303Ao$/((cb - c/A,)~ -t $), (14) 

where & is the peak spectral Absorbance (-log(I(h)/I&))) at the wavelength of maximum light 

attenuation by the gas and y is the half width at half height (HWHH) of the spectraline. 

Substituting equation (14) into equation (13), assuming that b is invariant with wavelength 

over the absorption linewidth and integrating over the full hnewidth, gives 

J (b(h) - I(h)) dh = 2.30310(h) JA&C/X - c/&)~ + $)dA = 2.303Io(;h)nAoy. (1% 

Substituting equation (15) into equation (10) and solving for the peak absorbance, Ao, gives 

AI = NmAx &,,,hv,,&.303xy. (16) 

The number of molecules in the initial state, Nm, is related to the total number of molecules, 

NT, through the vibrational (QV) and rotational (Q) partition functions: 

N,,, = NT(~J” + l)exp(- (l$ + B”J”(J” + l))hcKWQxX. (17) 

Substituting equation (17) into equation (16) gives 
Ao = [Ax B-h&,&-r&J” + 1)/2.303y Q&J exp(- (I&~~ +B”J”(F + l))hc/kT). (18) 

Equation (18) is useful for extracting temperature and concentration information f?om 

measured values of peak absorbance (Ao) for individual transitions in a rovibrational band By 

simultaneously fitting T and NT to & measured over a rovibrational band, temperature and gas 

pressure may be obtained. Equation (18) shows that it is necessary to lcnow the HWHH of each 

line in the spectrum used in the calculation, and the value of B,. This is not always trivial, 

since this value may be temperature and J-value dependent. Additionally, it is important to 

recognize that peak absorbances must be corrected when measured with an instrument of 

moderate spectral resolution. The method for extracting true peak absorbance from peak 

absorbance measured at moderate resolution has ken treated in detail by Anderson and Griffiths 

(1977). 

Substituting equation (18) into equation (16) and expressing the result in the form of the 

Bouguer-Lamkt Law (equation [ 111) gives 

I(WO(U = expK-Ax &&,,&)N~(~QX(@/l- c/kd2 + $1) 

x (2J” + l)exp(- &P + B”J”(J” + l))hc/kT)J. (1% 

Equation (19) allows direct comparison between high-resolution measurements of 

transmittance (I(h)/Io(h)) and transmittance calculated from spectral parameters, pressure of the 

absorbing gas, and the temperature. It should be noted that knowledge of the spectral line 

HWHH ($ is required, as well as an instrument capable of measuring the transmittance at high 

resolution. In practice, values of B, (usually converted to linestrengths) for different 

rovibrational transitions are taken from the literature or estimated from measurements of total 

band strength (Varghese and Hanson 1980). Also, the Voight lineshape pro&, which &scribes 

the convolution of a Gaussian lineshape function (applicable to gases at low pressure) and a 

Lorentzian lineshape function, is usuaIly used to model spectral lines in flames at reduced 

pressure (Daniel et al 1996). As with fits to data based upon equation (18), when spectra are 

measured on an instrument of moderate resolution (in general, an instrument resolution > O.ly), 

10 
the instrument lineshape function is convoluted with the true lineshape (equation [19]). When 

this is the case, this convolution must be included in the model (Vanderhoff et al. 1997). 

Equation (19) describes the fully resolved band structure observed in high-resolution IR 

spectra of many gas phase diatomic molecules, such as CO. Figure 4 shows the transmittance 

(T(h)/I&)) spectrum of CO, calculated using equation (19), for a constant number of molecules 

at the temperatures shown in Figure 2. Figure 4 shows that, as the temperature increases and 

more rotational energy levels become populated, the overall shape of the absorption band 

broadens to cover a wider spectral range. Additionally, because the total number of molecules is 

divided between a greater number of initial energy levels as temperature is increased, the 

intensity of individual rovibrational transitions changes with increasing temperature. 

1 i I I 1 1 1 , I I 1 

1900 1950 2ooo 2050 2100 2150 my3 z50 2300 2350 2400 

Wavenumber (cm-l) 

Figure 4. Calculated Transmittance of Light Through A Fixed Pressure of CO Gas at 

Different Temperatures. Spectra Are Offset for Clarity (Each Baseline 

Corresponds to 100 % Transmission). 

3. Experimental Methods - Narrative 

By the 195Os, the mathematical and instumental methods for determination of temperatures 

and species concentrations from measurements of IR spectra had been established (Barnes 1977), 

11 
in large part spurred by electronics developed during the second world war, by perfection of the 

method of commercial replication of diffraction gratings, and by publication in 1945 of 

Hertzbergs book Infrared and Raman Spectra of Polyatomic Molecules (Hertzberg 195Ob). 

During the 195Os, comparison of IR emission spectra from high-temperature sources in different 

laboratories was complicated by temperature gradients along the measurement line of sight and 

by incomplete spectral parameters for gas absorption at high temperatures. To obtain spectral 

parameters for gases under study, several efforts were made to study gases in closed ‘cells at 

controlled temperatures (Oppenheim 1963). Most of these efforts on studying gases at high 

temperature under static conditions employed absorption spectroscopy, in part to minimize self 

absorption along the line of sight and also to enable using modulation of the source radiation 

(allowing discrimin ation of the high-intensity, unmodulated background IR emission). The 

success in fundamental studies of band structure and in predicting emissivities and changes in 

absorption at high temperatures and pressures led to an increase, by the early 196Os, in studies of 

radiation transfer for systems ranging from jet and rocket motors to high-efficiency oil burners. 

A particular success that resulted from the study of gas phase emissivitics was the determination 

of thermal stress on NASA rocket motors from exhaust gas radiation (Limbaugh 1985). 

With the development in the early 1970s of the Fourier-transform spectrometer and the 

computer-based fast Fourier transform (FFI), it became possible to achieve high resolution 

coupled with high-energy throughput and phase-sensitive detection (Griffiths and & Haseth 

1986). However, the development of laser-based techniques (particularly laser-induced 

fluorescence LIFI) for measurement of flame radical species (such as OH, HCO, H, 0, CH, and 

C2) enabling direct measurement of species participating in flame propagation reactions (Daily 

1997) caused a shift in focus of fundamental spectroscopic investigations of flame systems. This 

shift led to a decrease in the late 1960s and early 1970s in the number of publications describing 

basic research that applied the techniques of dispersive IR absorption and emission spectroscopy 

to flames.* This decrease was offset by a considerable body of work on emission studies of hot 

gas sources, particularly smokestack and waste gas plumes from industrial sources (Wormhoudt 

and Conant 1985). 

l This conclusion is baaed upon an informal survey of the Proceedings of the International Symposia (International) 

on Combustion published by Academic Press, from 194X to 1996. 

12 
By the late 197Os, laser based techniques employing tunable infrarti lasers began to be used 

for species measurements in flames (Hanson et al. 1980). The majority of this work used tunable 

diode lasers (TDLs), semiconductor devices in which the output laser radiation wavelength is 

tuned by varying the temperature and diode injection current. Initial experiments used TDL’s 

emitting narrow linewidth (typically c 10s4 cm-‘) radiation in the mid-i&ared spectral region. 

The narrow linewidth usually enables species specscity, even in congested spectral regions. 

Since the laser linewidth is typically several orders of magnitude less than the absorption 

linewidth, measurements of the fully resolved absorption transition may be made, enabling the 

determination of lineshape dependence upon pressure and temperature. An additional advantage 

to using tunable diode lasers, besides very narrow linewidths, is the ability to tune the lasers 

rapidly (kHz to MEIz) over their output wavelength range. This enables phase sensitive detection 

that minimizes the effect of the laser output noise, and also enables time resolved measurements 

of dynamic systems. 

Recently, tunable diode lasers operating in the near-infrared spectral region have begun to 

see application to the spectroscopy of flames and to flame gases (Bomse et al. 1992; Silver 

1992). At this time, commercial availability of TDLs in the mid-IR spectral range is greater than 

for the near-IR spectral range. TDLs operating in the mid-IR spectral range must be cooled to 

cryogenic temperatures. TDLs operating in the near-IR spectral range operate near room 

temperature, and, unlike mid-IR radiation, the near-IR radiation may be transmitted over long 

distances through optical fibers. However, since absorption in the near-IR spectral region 

corresponds to a change in vibrational quantum number greater than unity (referred to as an 

over&one transition), the sensitivity to a given molecule is much less than for mid-IR 

spectroscopy, which is usually used to measure rovibrational transitions in the fundamental 

vibrational band. Typically, mid-IR TDLs a& used when extreme sensitivity is required (ppb 

range). For many field-based techniques that require transportability in rugged environments, 

near-IR TDLs are more appropriate (ppm range). 

13 
4. Experimental Methods - Dispersive and 

Fourier-Transform Spectroscopy 

4.1 Emission Measurements. Since the mid-197Os, most measurements of emission 

spectra of steady flames have ,used Fourier-transform techniques. Figure’ 5 shows the emission 

spectrum measured from a premixed, stoichiomettic C&/O2 flame (total pressure equal to 18 

torr) to which 3% CF3Br has ken added as a flame suppressant. When appropriate, reduced 

pressure flames are often studied kcause, at reduced pressure, the flame region is expanded, 

allowing more &tailed study. The emission spectrum shown in Figure 5 was measured using an 

FTIR spectrometer at a resolution of 1 cm-‘. 

co2 

1 

1000 

I I I 

2000 3000 4000 

Wavenumber (cm-l) 

Figure 5. The IR Emission Spectrum Measured From a Premixed, Stoichiometric C&/O2 

Flame (Total Pressure 17 TOIT) to Which 3% CF3Br Has Been Added. 

In Figure 5, spectral features from several flame species are identikd, but the spectrum is 

dominated by emission from Coz and gaseous H20. This is because higher temperatures allow 

emission over a wide range of rovibrational transitions (see Figure 4) from combinations of 

14 
different vibrational states and the geometry of the emitting species (specifically, in this case, 

HzO) causes the spectrum to be complicated (relative to that for a diatomic molecule). The 

measured spectrum in Figure 5 reports emission from species over a wide range of temperatures 

because the line of sight from the flame center to the detector includes gases at many different 

temperatures. Also, because many flame species are products of an ongoing chemical reaction 

(combustion), these species may be produced w$h vibrational and rotational population 

distributions that are not in equilibrium with translational temperatures (Gaydon 1948). Because 

of this, temperatures calculated from emission spectra using expressions similar to equations (18) 

or (19) may give misleading results. When these factors are taken into account, temperature and 

partial pressures of gas species may be extracted from high-resolution measurements of 

IR-emission spectra (Wormhoudt and Conant 1985). 

4.2 Absorption Measurements. Figure 6 shows an absorption spectrum measured through 

an opposed-flow CH&.ir fkime (total pressure 50 torr) using a FTIR spectrometer at 1 cm-’ 

resolution. It should be noted that this spectrum is less congested and has a slightly more regular 

appearance than that shown in Figure 5. Absorption features corn several species are evident in 

the spectrum. For flame diagnostics using IR-absorption spectroscopy, CO is probably the most 

widely studied molecule. The fundamental rovibrational absorption band of CO (v = 0 - 1, 

centered at 2,170 cm-‘) is well approximated by ‘equation (19) and has a spacing ‘between 

rotational lines (2B) of approximately 3.6 cm-‘. Modeling of measured spectra is relatively 

straightforward, and fully resolved rovibrational lines may be measured at moderate instrument 

resolution (although the reported lineshape may be just the instrument lineshape function 

[Anderson and Grifliths 19751). In addition, since CO is a major product of hydrocarbon 

combustion, it is present in most flame systems. Figure 7 shows the spectrum of the fist 

overtone (v = 0 - 2) of CO, measured using a dispersive system, and the fit to the measured 

spectrum using an equation similar to equation (19). Since the resolution of the spectrometer 

used to measure the spectrum in Figure 7 was insufficient to fully resolve the lineshapes of the 

individual rovibrational transitions, it was necessary to convolute the instrument function with 

the true lineshape function (equation [19]) to obtain an accurate fit of the measured to calculated 

spectrum (Van&rhoff et al. 1997). 

15 
Luminous 

Flame Zone t 

ODDOSSd 

; ..__..._...._._...__ ~ ..,__. ~ . . .._ _._.* _...._ * .___.. * .. *.._ ..___... _* . . . . . . . . It...~--*.-**t.*.*.**-.. 

loo0 2& &lo 

Wavenumber (cm-l) 

Figure 6. The IR Absorption Spectrum Measured Through a 50-Torr Opposed-Flow 

CHdAir Flame. The Inset Shows the Burner Configuration Used to Produce 

the Flame. 

1.00 4- 

~ 0.96 - 

4 

= 

I 0.92 - 

G 

0.88 - 

2250 2300 2350 2400 2450 

Wavelength (nm) 

Figure 7. The Transmittance Spectrum of the First Overtone (v = 0 - 2) of CO. The Gas 

Was Contained in a Static Cell at 1 Atmosphere Total Pressure and a 

Temperature of 423 K. The Dotted Line Is the Measured Spectrum, and the 

Solid Line Represents the Least Squares Fit to the Data. 

16 
A major difSculty in obtaining quantitative absorption measurements of flame species is that 

absorption of radiation by cold gases in the probe beam line of sight may lead to errors. 

Currently, several methods of excluding contributions to absorption by cold gases in the line of 

sight are used (Dasch 1992), with most methods employing some type of computer averaged 

tomography (CAT). Using these methods (often referred to as inversion methods), multiple line 

of sight measurements at different relative orientations are made within a plane, or slice, through 

the flame. Using these multiple line of sight measurements, numerical methods are used to 

calculate species concentration at a given point within the plane. Applying this technique to 

multiple pianes, or slices, through the flame can yield a three-dimensional reconstruction of 

species concentration within the flame. This technique has been used to measure Co in reduced 

and atmospheric pressure flames (Best et aL 1991; McNesby et al. 1995). A summation of 

inversion methods used to measure temperatures and species in flames has ken given by 

Limbaugh (1985). 

It should be noted that, when measuring flame-absorption spectra using a FI’IR spectrometer, 

care must be exercised so that flame emission is not reflected through the interferometer and 

reported as an absorption signal. To minimize the emitted radiation that reaches the 

interferometer, the collimated probe IR beam is brought to a focus at an iris prior to entering the 

flame region. After passing through the iris, the probe radiation is recollimated prior to entering 

the flame. While useful for identification of species within the flame, FI’IR spectroscopy wilI 

not yield high spatial resolution unless the IR probe beam is reduced in cross section (usually by 

being passed through a set of apertures) prior to entering the flame region. This reduction in 

power of the IR probe beam energy reduces the signal-to-noise ratio in the measured spectrum. 

A typical experimental setup for measuring IR-absorption spectra through a flame using an FI’IR 

spectrometer is shown in Figure 8. 

Most commercial spectrometer systems employing broadband sources (typically FI’IR 

systems) are not capable of resolving the true lineshape of an absorbing gas phase species 

because of limitations to instrument resolution. The instrument yields the convolution of the true 

absorbing gas lineshape and the instrument response function. Computer-based programs used 

to retrieve species concentration and temperature must either take into account this convolution 

17 
r I Moving Mirror 

F Aperture 

Fixed Mirror \\ 

\ ;0 IR Source 

Beam Splitter 

Mirror Mirror 

Infrared Probe Beam 11 

Burner on Translating 

Stage 

Infrared Detector 

Figure 8. Experimental Apparatus for Measurement of FI’IR Absorption Spectra Through 

Flames. The System Is Designed to Minimize the Amount of Flame Emission 

That Reaches the Interferometer. The Burner Is Mounted on a Translating 

Stage (X and 2 Ax-) to Allow for Tomographic Analysis. 

or use for calculations the instrument response-corrected peak intensity of the rovibrational 

transition (A&-son and Griffiths 1975). 

5. Experimental Methods .- Applications of Tunable Diode 

Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) 

TDLs are semiconductor devices (typically GaAs), which are essentkilly light-emitting 

diodes constructed within an optical resonator (Bomse et al. 1992). Lasing is achieved by 

delivering a small current to the photodiode. Tuning is achieved by changing the temperature 

18 

. 
and, hence, the Fermi level of the device. The tuning range varies by type, but is usually 

Mween 2 cm-’ and 30 cm-‘. The useful tuning range (ie., the range over which the device may 

be rapidly tuned without encountering changes in laser modes, which can mask absorption 

features) is usually less than 1 cm-‘. This restricted tuning range means that the devices are not 

used in a survey mode. In general, a TDL laser spectrometer system is designed to detect a 

single gas using a single, specially fabricated, dedicated, laser diode. Occasionally, absorption 

transitions from different gases of interest may occur within the useful tuning range of a single 

laser, but such occurrences are usually fortuitous. Additionally, because of the limited tuning 

range, calculation of temperature and species concentration may be dif&ult when only one line 

is measured 

There are, however, several advantages to using TDLs for measurement of gas phase flame 

species. These include high resolution (typically better than 1 x 10S4 cm-‘), good spatial 

resolution (200 ~1 to 1 mm), reasonable output power (- 1 mw), and the ability to scan over their 

spectral range on a miJhsecond or better timescale. Probably, the most widely studied molecular 

flame species by TDL spectroscopy is CO. In addition to the reasons for study previously 

outlined in the discussion of broadband source methods, CO possesses several fundamental 

(v = 0 - 1) and hot-band transitions (v = 1 - 2, v = 2 - 3), which occur within severalinewidths 

(approximately 0.05 cm-‘) of each other (Varghese and Hanson 1980). At room temperature, 

populations of states from which hotband transitions occur are very low. However, at flame 

temperatures, populations of vibrational states other than the v = 0 state may become 

appreciable. When temperatures (and also species concentrations) are calculated from 

simultaneous measurement of a fundamental and hotband transition, the technique is referred to 

as two-line thermometry (Hanson et aL 1980). 

Figure 9 shows several spectra of CO measured in a low-pressure (20 torr), stoichiometric 

Cf&/& flame using mid-IR TDL spectroscopy (Daniel et al. 1996). Because the wavelength of 

the diode laser radiation corresponds to single quantum numlxr changes in CO (in this case, a 

v=o- landav = 1 - 2 transition) simple absorption spectroscopy may be employed. Each 

spectrum is measured at a different height above the burner surface. For these experiments, the 
P(H) v= l-2 

P( 12) v - 2-3 

s 

Height above burner 

surface (mm) 

Wavenumber (cna-I) X IO-6 

Figure 9. Mid-IR TDL Spectra of CQ, Measured Through a Premixed C%/Oz Flame, at a 

Total Pressure of 20 Torr, as a Function of Height Above the Burner Surface. 

The Maximum Temperature Calculated Using Two-Line Thermometry Was 

2,150 K. 

probe laser beam location was fixed and the burner location was translated vertically. The IR 

laser beam diameter through the flame region was 0.5 mm. As the diode laser radiation passes 

through different portions of the flame, the relative areas under the two peaks corresponding to 

absorption from different rovibrational levels changes. Figure 10 shows the results of fitting an 

equation similar to equation (19) to an absorption spectrum from Figure 9. Using this method, 

the CO vibrational temperature was calculated as a function of height above the burner surface 

(‘I& = 2,150 K +/- 50 K). Additionally, tomographic analysis of the data showed that the error 

from cold gas absorption for these experiments was always less than 10% of calculated 

temperatures and partial pressures (McNesby et al- 1995). 

TDE spectroscopy is also used for detection of many trace gas species in flames and in flame 

environments. The method used for measurements of small amounts of gases (often to the ppb 

range) relies on modulation spectroscopy using phase-sensitive detection. The principal 

advantage to using modulation spectroscopy results from minimization of laser output noise by 

20 
0.80 

0.95 

P12 v (3,2) 

P18 (2,l) 

I 

2043.0 

I 1 I 

2042.8 2042.9 

Frequency (cm-l) 

FigurelO. A Transmission Spectrum Measured Through a Low-Pressure, Premixed 

CHs/O2 Flame at 20 TOIT. The Main Absorption Features Are the Two CO 

Lines Used to Calculate the Temperature Using the Method of Two-Line 

Therrnometry. Calculated Temperature Was 2,150 K. 

shifting detection to high frequencies (Bomse et al 1992). When phase-sensitive detection is 

employed using TDLs, the second derivative of the diode laser probe beam intensity with respect 

to wavelength is usually measured, since the wavelength at which the second derivative is a 

maximum coincides with the wavelength of maximum light absorption. The second derivative 

signal peak height may be shown (Reid and Labrie 198 I) to be proportional to absorbance, A: 

X’lV=kA. (20) 

Here, X” is the peak height of the second derivative signal (volts), V is the direct-current 

(DC) voltage measured by the detector in the absence of any molecular absorbance, and k is a 

constant that includes the measuring instrument and optics function. Letting S, denoted as 2f 

signal peak height (peak to trough height, the distance between the maximum and minimum 

points on the 2f signal, see Figure 11 [cl), equal X”/V, yields 

S = (ka) LP. (21) 

21 
2F DETECTION FOR TRACE GAS 

MEASUREMENT 

a 

7665.5 7665.51 7005.52 7665.53 7665.54 7665.55 7665.56 

Wavenumber (cm-l) 

Figure 11. Simulated Signal vs. Wavelength of Laser Radiation After Passing Through a 

Gas With an Absorption Feature Near 7665.5 cm-’ Graphs for (a) 

Unmodulated Laser Radiation; (b) Laser Radiation With a Small-Amplitude, 

High-Frequency Modulation; and (c) Demodulation at Twice the 

High-Frequency Modulation in (b). 

The slope of a plot of LP vs. S provides the value of kcl. A calibration of the system using 

known concentrations of the absorbing gas must be performed to determine the value of kcr. 

Once this value is known, gas pressure (P) may be obtained directly from equation (21). Care 

must be exercised so that changes in optical surfaces during measurement (as when measuring 

corrosive gases such as HF) do not affect the value of ka, since this value is instrument function 

dependent. For this reason, calibration should be petiorrned at the beginning and end of each 

measurement set. Additionally, for gas concentrations that attenuate more than 5% of the 

incident light, the linear relationship between gas pressure and 2f Signal peak height may no 

longer hold (Miller et al. 1993). 

Modulation spectroscopy using TDLs (often referred to as 2f spectroscopy) has been 

extensively discussed in the literature (Fried et al. 1998). Figure 11 gives a generic description 

22 
of the signal processing employed in these experiments. Briefly, the laser output wavelength is 

scanned (10 Hz to10 kHz) through a spectral region where the gas being measured absorbs. The 

output at the detector during the laser scan (with the high-frequency modulation turned off) may 

be seen in the upper trace of Figure 11. A high-frequency (10 kHz to MHz) wavelength 

modulation with an amplitude approximately equal to the linewidth under investigation is 

superimposed on the laser drive current (middle trace in Figure 11). Demodulation at twice the 

frequency of the high-freq uency laser drive modulation yields the second derivative signal 

shown in the lower trace in Figure 11. It should be noted that the upper trace in Figure 11 shows 

that the laser diode output power has a nonlinear dependence on laser drive current. While this is 

nonideal behavior, this is a common trait of commercially available laser diodes. The nonlinear 

power output dependence on laser drive current (exaggerated here for illustration) causes the 

sloping baseline for the second derivative signal in Figure 11. For measurements at extremely 

low concentrations or for gases with small absorption cross sections, the nonlinearity of laser 

diode output power with laser drive current may affect limits of detection. 

Modulation spectroscopy enables discrimin ation against contributions to light attenuation by 

scattering from particulate matter using a single laser beam. Attenuation of laser radiation by a 

rovibrational transition of a small gas molecule is detected because the wavelength range of the 

scan is several times the width of the spectral absorption feature (typically on the order of 

0.1 cm-’ at atmospheric pressure). Because light scattering by particulate matter is nearly 

constant over the very small wavelength range of the laser scan, the change in detector signal 

intensity with the change in wavelength is effectively zero in the absence of any absorbing gas. 

However, because the 2f signal is also proportional to the background signal intensity, the 

second derivative signal is divided by the DC signal to account for light scattering by particles. 

While modulation techniques enable trace gas detection, special care must be exercised when 

making measurements in flames, especially when using near-m laser radiation. Significant 

errors in measured concentrations may arise because of beam steering as the laser radiation 

passes through the flame. In some cases, the beam steering may be severe enough to cause loss 

of signal at the detector. Secondly, great care must be exercised when measuring 2f spectra 

23 
through regions of tiering temperature and pressure, since the 2f signal is extremely sensitive 

to changes in linewidth of the absorbing species (Reid and Labrie 1981). 

6. Conclusion 

IR spectroscopy continues to be a valuable tool for measuring species concentrations and 

temperatures in flames and combustion gases, especially in field-based studies. The advent of 

compact, fiber-coupled TDLs operating at room temperature is expanding the use of vibrational 

spectroscopy kyond the laboratory and providing a useful complement to broadband methods 

currently in place. 

24 
7. References 

Anderson, R. J., and P. R. Gtiths. “Errors in Absorbance Measurements in Infrared Fourier 

Transform Spectrometry Because of Limited Instrument Resolution.” Analytical Chemistry, 

vol. 47, pp. 2339-2347,1975. 

Anderson, R. J., and P. R. Griffiths. “Determination of Rotational Temperatures of Diatomic 

Molecules From Absorption Spectra Measured at M&rate Resolution.” Journal of 

Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Tran$er, vol. 17, pp. 393-401, 1977. 

Bames, A. J., and W. J. -e-Thomas (editors). Vibrational Spectroscopy - Modern Trends. 

Amsterdam: Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, 1977. 

~ Bernath, P. F. Spectra of Atoms and Molecules. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. 

Best, P. E., P. L. Chien, R. M. Carangelo, P. R. Solomon, M. Dan&k, and I. Ilovici 

‘Tomographic Reconstruction of FI-IR Emission and Transmission Spectra in a Sooting 

Iamirar Diffusion Flame: Species Concentrations and Temperatures, Combustion and 

Flame.” Vol. 85, pp. 309-318, 1991. 

Bomse, D. S., D. C. Hovde, D. B. Oh, J. A. Silver, and A. C. Stanton. ‘Diode Laser 

Spectroscopy for On-Line Chemical Analysis.” Optically Based Methods for Process 

AnaZysis. D. S. Bomse, H. Brittain, S. Farquharson, J. M. Lerner, A. J. Rein, C. Sohl, 

T. R. Todd, and L. Weyer (editors), Proceedings of SPIE, vol. 1681, pp. 138-148,1992. 

Daily, J. W. “Iaser Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy in Flames.” Progress in Energy and 

Combustion Science, VOL 23, pp. 133-199,1997. 

Daniel, R. G., K L. McNesby, and A. W. Miziolek. ‘The Application of Tunable Diode Laser 

Diagnostics for Temperature and Species Concentration Profiles of Inhibited Low Pressure 

Flames.” Applied Optics, vol. 35, 1996. 

Dasch, C. H. “One-Dimensional Tomography: A Comparison of Abel, Onion-Peeling, and 

Filtered Backprojection Methods.” Applied Optics, voL 31, pp. 11461152,1992. 

Fried, A., B. Henry, B. Wert, S. Sewell, and J. R. Drummond. ‘Laboratory, Ground-Based, and 

Airborne Tunable Diode Laser Systems: Performance Characteristics and Applications in 

Atmospheric Studies.” Applied Physics B, voL 67, pp. 317-330,1998. 

Gaydon, A. G. Spectroscopy and Combustion Theory. London: Chapman and Hall, Ltd, 

p. 129, 1948. 

r 

Gaydon, A. G., and H. G. Wolfhard. Flames: Their Structure, Radiation, and Temperature. 

London: Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 1953. 

25 
Gaydon, A. G. The Spectroscopy of FZames. London: Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 2nd Edition, 

1974. 

Grifliths, P. R., and J. A. de Haseth, “Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.” New York, 

NY: Wiley, 1986. 

Hanson, R. K., P. L. Varghese, S. M. Schoenung, and P. K Falcone. “Absorption Spectroscopy 

of Combustion Gases Using a Tunable IR Diode Laser.” Laser Probes for Combustion 

Chemistry, D. R. Crosley (editor), ACS Symposium Series 134, American Chemical Society, 

Washington, DC, 1980. 

Hertzberg, G. “Spectra of Diatomic Molecules.” New York, NY: Van Nostrand & Co., 1950a 

Hertzberg, G. ‘Electronic Spectra of Polyatomic Molecules.” New York, NY: Van Nostrand & 

Co., 1950b. 

Limbaugh, C. C. ‘The Infrared Emission-Absorption Method for Temperature and Species 

Partial Pressure Determination in Flames and Plumes.” ’ Infrared Methods for Gaseous 

Measurements, J, Wormhoudt (editor), New York, NY: Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1985. 

McNesby, K. L., R. G. Daniel, and A. W. Miziolek. “Tomographic Analysis of CO Absorption 

in a Low-Pressure Flame.” Applied Optics, vol. 34, pp. 3318-24, 1995. 

McNesby, K. &, R. G. Daniel, J. M. Widder, and A. W. Miziolek. “Spectroscopic Investigation 

of Atmospheric Diffusion Flames Inhibited by Halons and Their Alternatives.” Applied 

Spectroscopy, vol. 50, p. 126,1996. 

Miller, J. H., S. Elreedy, B. Ahvazi, F. Woldu, and P. Hassanzadeh. ‘Tunable Diode-Laser 

Measurement of Carbon Monoxide Concentration and Temperature in a Laminar 

Methane-Air Diffusion Flame.” Applied Optics, vol. 32, pp. 6082-6089, 1993. 

Moore, W. J. Physical Chemistry. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., Fourth Edition, 1972. 

Oppenheim, U. P. “Spectral Emissivity of the 4.3~ Coz Band at 1,200 IL” Ninth Symposium 

(International) on Combustion, pp* 96101, New York, NY: Academic Press, 1963. 

Penner, S. S. Quantitative Molecular Spectroscopy and Gas Emissivities. Reading, MA: 

Addison-Wesley Publisher Co., 1959. 

Reid, J., and D. Labrie. “Second Harmonic Detection With Tunable Diode Lasers - Comparison 

of Experiment and Theory.” Applied Physics B, vol. 26, pp* 20>210, 1981. 

Silver, J. A. “Frequency Modulation Spectroscopy for Trace Species Detection: Theory and 

Comparison Among Experimental Methods.” AppZied Optics, vol. 31, pp. 707-717, 1992. 

Steinfeld, J. I. Molecules and Radiation. New York, NY: Harper and Row, 1974. 

26 
Townes, C. H., and A. L. Schawlow. Microwave Spectroscopy. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 

1955. 

Vanderhoff, J. A., S. H. Modiano, B. E. Homau, and M. W. Teague. ‘Overtone Absorption 

Spectroscopy of Solid Propellant Flames: CO and N20 Concentrations.” Challenges in 

Propellants and Combustion 100 Years Afier Nobel, pp. 876-884, K K Kuo (editor), New 

York, NY: Begell House, Inc., 1997. 

Varghese, P. L., and R. K Hanson. ‘“Tunable Ir&red Diode Laser Measurements of Line 

S~ngths and Collision Widths of 12C160 at Room Temperahue.” JhrnaZ of Quantitative 

Spectroscopy &Radiative Transfer, vol. 24, p. 279,198O. 

Wilson, E. B., J. C. De&s, and P. C. Cross. Molecular Vibrations. New York, NY: McGrawHill co., 1955. 

Wormhoudt, J. A., and J. A. Conant. “High Resolution Infrared Emission Studies From Gaseous 

Sources.” Infrared Methods for Gaseous Measurements, pp. l-45, J. Wormhoudt (editor), 

New York, NY: Marcel Dekker, Ix., 1985. 

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30 
ure Measurement Using Vibrational Spectroscopy 

Kevin McNesby 

Akrdeen Roving Ground, MD 210055066 

Qproved for public release; diseibution is unlimited. 

12b. DlSTRIBUllON COE 

3. AliEnAm- aDo-1 

An overview of the application of vibrational spectroscopy to the study of flames is provided. ‘Ihe mathematics oi 

n-on of flame spectra for determination of species concentration and temperahue are hoduced, The history 

If the application of vibrational spectroscopy to the study of flames is briefly summarkd. Applications of methods 

ting dispersive ahorption and emission spectroscopy and of methods using tunable diode lasers (TDL.s) to the study 

d flame systems are discussed. 

l4.&mJEcrlERys 

ribxational spectfoscopy,flames. infrared, temmture measurement 

15. NUMBER OF PAGES 

3s 

16. PREE eo# 

7. SIEWRITV cLMLGIFIcAnot4 16. same CusslFlcAnofd 16. sa.mm -wmotd 39, IJMlTAlWN Of ABSTRACT 

0FREmR-r OFTHIS PAOE OFABSTR*m 

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED UL 

c-d*d La- P.-ha m-. n -\ 

31 *mIvalY rv,,,, LJO ,-. r-oa, 

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