title: Complications to optical measurements using a laser with an unstable resonator: a case study on laser-induced incandescence of soot.
abstract: Temporal behavior of pulses from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with an unstable resonator can vary significantly with radial position in the beam. Our laser provides pulses with position-dependent durations spanning 8-11.5 ns at 1064 nm and 7-10 ns at 532 nm. Pulses emerge first and have the longest duration at the center of the beam; they are shorter (by up to 4 ns) and increasingly delayed (by up to 10 ns) with increasing radial distance from the center. This behavior can have a dramatic effect on time-sensitive experiments, such as laser-induced incandescence of soot, if not taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, P.O. Box 969, MS 9055, Livermore, California 94551-0969, USA.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dansson
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boisselle
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Linne
authors.forename: Hope A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Michelsen