title: Ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy in optically dense fireballs using broadband second-harmonic generation of a pulsed modeless dye laser.
abstract: Broadband frequency doubling of a modeless dye laser pulse is used to enable single-shot absorption spectroscopy in the ultraviolet for optically dense, energetic-materials fireball applications. Band widths of approximately 1-3 nm are generated in the 226 and 268 nm regions using a doubling crystal. Strong focusing of the fundamental beam onto the crystal is found to be sufficient to achieve 1-5% conversion efficiency with a pulse intensity sufficient to saturate the array detector even after 75% attenuation through the fireball. The technique is demonstrated with nitric oxide (NO) absorption in a gas cell and is then used to perform the first detection and temperature fitting of aluminum monofluoride (AlF) and magnesium monofluoride (MgF) in a fireball environment.
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C3, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Glumac