Measurement and analysis of OH emission spectra following laser-induced optical breakdown in air.
The measured emission spectra of the OH radical subsequent to laser-induced optical breakdown in air are analyzed to infer spectroscopic temperature and species number density. Emissions from the UV A2sigma+ --> X2IIi transition dominate the spectra in the wavelength range of 306-322 nm and for time delays from the optical breakdown of 30-300 micros. Contributions from other species to the recorded OH emission spectra were also investigated for spectroscopic temperature measurements in the range of 2000-6000 K and for OH number densities in the range of 10(14) - 2 x 10(16) cm(-3). Monte Carlo simulations are applied to estimate errors in the analysis of the hydroxyl spectra.
Parigger
Christian G
CG
Center for Laser Applications, The University of Tennessee Space Institute, 411 B. H. Goethert Parkway, Tullahoma, Tennessee 37388, USA.
Guan
Guoming
G
Hornkohl
James O
JO