Date of Award

3-2000

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Engineering Physics

First Advisor

Glen P. Perram, PhD

Abstract

Saturation spectroscopy techniques were used to demonstrate the ability to make spatially resolved temperature measurements by exploiting the B3 ∏(O+u) - X1 Σ ;(O+g) electronic transition in molecular iodine (I2). Doppler-free saturation spectroscopy measurements resulted in hyperfine spectral profiles for the P(7O) 17-1 and P(53) 19-2 ro-vibrational transitions between the electronic levels. Doppler-limited saturation spectroscopy, an adaptation of the Doppler-free technique in which beams propagate in the same direction and cross within the gas sample, allowed for the measurement of spatially resolved Doppler profiles for the same transitions. The profiles were measured at several spatial positions in I2 cells with measured temperature gradients. The technique did not produce accurate temperature readings; however, the saturation spectroscopy variant did produce profiles that were spatially resolved, with an interaction volume of approximately 12 x 1 x 1 (mm units). This thesis was motivated by the Air Force's Airborne Laser Laboratory (ABL), which has a need to discriminate a spatially distributed temperature distribution. The Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL), which is the high power directed energy source for ABL, has a low concentration of I2 as a reaction byproduct. Line-integrated optical temperature measurements inside the COIL reaction chamber have been higher than predicted, which can have a dramatic effect on the threshold condition for the laser. Spatially resolved temperature measurements would provide a diagnostic tool to identify hot spots and heat gradients in the supersonic flow region of the laser.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GAP-ENP-00M-03

DTIC Accession Number

ADA384468

Comments

The author's Vita page is omitted.

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