Ultrahigh-frame-rate OH fluorescence imaging in turbulent flames using a burst-mode optical parametric oscillator

High-efficiency narrow-bandwidth KTP optical parametric oscillator for kHz-MHz planar laser-induced fluorescence

The electronic excitation of key combustion species or flow tagging of chemical species requires a narrowband tunable UV source. In this work, a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) burst-mode optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by a 532 nm laser is developed to generate a spectrally narrow signal and an idler output with 1.48 ± 0.19 cm-1 bandwidth without the need for injection seeding. The idler (1410-1550 nm range) is further mixed with 355 or 266 nm to generate 284 or 226 nm for OH or NO planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF), respectively, with up to 1.9% conversion efficiency from 1064 nm to the UV. MHz-rate burst profiles are reported, and OH and NO PLIF are demonstrated in a rotating detonation combustor at rates up to 200 kHz.

Noncolinear optical parametric oscillator for broadband nanosecond pulse-burst CARS diagnostics in gases

Demonstration of broadband nanosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) using a burst-mode-pumped noncolinear optical parametric oscillator (NOPO) has been achieved at a pulse repetition rate of 40 kHz. The NOPO is pumped with the 355-nm output of a burst-mode Nd:YAG laser at 50 mJ/pulse for 45 pulses and produces an output centered near 607 nm, with a bandwidth of 370 cm^-1 at energies of 5 mJ/pulse. A planar BOXCARS phase matching scheme uses the broadband NOPO output as the Stokes beam and the narrowband 532-nm burst-mode output for the two CARS pump beams for single-laser-shot nitrogen thermometry in near adiabatic H₂/air flames at temperatures up to 2200 K.

10 kHz 2D thermometry in turbulent reacting flows using two-color OH planar laser-induced fluorescence

10 kHz two-color OH planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) thermometry was demonstrated in both laminar Hencken flames and turbulent premixed jet flames using two injection-seeded optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) pumped by a high-speed three-legged burst-mode laser. The two burst-mode OPOs generate ∼5mJ/pulse at 282 nm and 286 nm to excite the Q₁(5) and Q₁(14) transitions of the A²Σ⁺←X²Π (1,0) system of OH, respectively. PLIF images were collected simultaneously from each of the two transitions and ratios of intensities from the two images were used to determine local temperatures. Analyses of flame curvature, temperature, and the correlation in time of these two quantities are also discussed. The results from this work are promising for the use of this technique in more complex flow environments and at, potentially, even higher repetition rate.

CH and NO planar laser-induced fluorescence and Rayleigh-scattering in turbulent flames using a multimode optical parametric oscillator

An optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is developed and characterized for the simultaneous generation of ultraviolet (UV) and near-UV nanosecond laser pulses for the single-shot Rayleigh scattering and planar laser-induced-fluorescence (PLIF) imaging of methylidyne (CH) and nitric oxide (NO) in turbulent flames. The OPO is pumped by a multichannel, 8-pulse Nd:YAG laser cluster that produces up to 225 mJ/pulse at 355 nm with pulse spacing of 100 µs. The pulsed OPO has a conversion efficiency of 9.6% to the signal wavelength of ∼430nm when pumped by the multimode laser. Second harmonic conversion of the signal, with 3.8% efficiency, is used for the electronic excitation of the A-X (1,0) band of NO at ∼215nm, while the residual signal at 430 nm is used for direct excitation of the A-X (0,0) band of the CH radical and elastic Rayleigh scattering. The section of the OPO signal wavelength for simultaneous CH and NO PLIF imaging is performed with consideration of the pulse energy, interference from the reactant and product species, and the fluorescence signal intensity. The excitation wavelengths of 430.7 nm and 215.35 nm are studied in a laminar, premixed CH₄-H₂-NH₃-air flame. Single-shot CH and NO PLIF and Rayleigh scatter imaging is demonstrated in a turbulent CH₄-H₂-NH₃ diffusion flame using a high-speed intensified CMOS camera. Analysis of the complementary Rayleigh scattering and CH and NO PLIF enables identification and quantification of the high-temperature flame layers, the combustion product zones, and the fuel-jet core. Considerations for extension to simultaneous, 10-kHz-rate acquisition are discussed.

Generation of high-energy, Gaussian laser pulses with tunable duration from 100 picoseconds to 1 millisecond

In this work, a variable-pulse-oscillator is developed and coupled with a burst-mode amplifier for generation of high-energy laser pulses with width of 100 ps to 1 ms and near-Gaussian temporal pulse shape. Pulse energy as high as 600 mJ is demonstrated at 1064 nm, with a super-Gaussian spatial profile and beam quality as good as 1.6 times the diffraction limit. A time-dependent pulse amplification model is developed and is in general agreement with experimentally measured values of output pulse energy and temporal pulse shape of the amplified pulses. Key performance parameters (pulse energy, temporal pulse shape, and spatial beam profile and quality) are analyzed as a function of pulse width across seven orders of magnitude. Additionally, the model is used to elucidate deviations between the simulated and experimental data, showing that the relationship between pulse width and output pulse energy is dominated by the variable-pulse-width oscillator performance, not the burst-mode amplifier.

Femtosecond laser activation and sensing of hydroxyl for velocimetry in reacting flows

A molecular tagging method for velocity measurements in reacting environments such as propulsion devices and high-temperature combustion-assisted wind tunnels is described. The method employs a femtosecond (write) laser to photodissociate H₂O, a common combustion product, into a locally high concentration of OH radicals. These radicals are tracked by planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) from the A²Σ-X²Π (1-0) vibrational band excited by a time-delayed 284 nm (read) laser sheet. As a variant of hydroxyl tagging velocimetry, the source laser can also be used to dissociate nitrogen for femtosecond laser electronic excitation tagging velocimetry to mark the time-zero location of the write laser for velocimetry in non-reacting regions using the same imaging system without OH PLIF. The OH tracer lifetime is studied in a hydrogen-air Hencken burner operating at Φ=0.5-1.8 to evaluate the tracking capability for velocimetry over a range of conditions. Effects of changing read laser wavelength, excitation energy, and influence of background flame emission are also studied. The data processing methodology and results are described for tracking displacements with 9-25 µm uncertainty in a hydrogen diffusion flame. This method presents several advantages in operational convenience and availability of laser sources, and it provides an avenue for improvements in the repetition rate, precision, and applicability over previously demonstrated hydroxyl tagging schemes.

Megahertz-rate OH planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging in a rotating detonation combustor

Megahertz-rate hydroxyl radical planar laser-induced fluorescence (OH-PLIF) was demonstrated in a hydrogen/air rotating detonation combustor for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. A custom injection-seeded optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by the 355 nm output of a high-energy burst-mode laser produced narrowband pulses near 284 nm for OH excitation. The system generated sequences of more than 150 ultraviolet pulses with 400 µJ/pulse at 1 MHz and 150 µJ/pulse at 2 MHz. The order of magnitude improvement in the repetition rate over prior OH-PLIF measurements and in the number of pulses over previous megahertz burst-mode OPOs enables spatiotemporal analysis of complex detonation combustion dynamics.

Application of FRAME for Simultaneous LIF and LII Imaging in Sooting Flames Using a Single Camera

In this article, the application of the FRAME (Frequency Recognition Algorithm for Multiple Exposures) technique is presented for multi-species measurements in symmetric and asymmetric ethylene/air diffusion flames. Laminar Bunsen-type and swirled diffusion flames are investigated to gain a better understanding of sooting combustion. For this purpose, simultaneous imaging is conducted in terms of Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and Laser-Induced Incandescence (LII) of soot particles. Subsequently, the approach is utilized for simultaneous imaging of hydroxyl (OH)-LIF and soot-LII. Here, the modulated LIF- and LII-signals are acquired together as a single sub-image-with a single exposure utilizing the full sensor size of a single camera. By employing the frequency-recognition algorithm on the single image, the LIF- and LII-signals are spectrally isolated-generating two individual LIF- and LII-images. The flame luminosity and out-of-focus light such as reflected surrounding laser light are detected as non-modulated signals in the unprocessed image. These unwanted signals are suppressed using the image post-processing, and, therefore, the image contrast of the two resulting images is improved. It is found that PAHs mainly exist in the inner region near the burner and are surrounded by soot. The majority of the OH is distributed on the outer edges of the flame-representing the reaction zone and soot-oxidation region of the flame.

100 kHz krypton planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging

Krypton planar laser-induced fluorescence (Kr PLIF) was demonstrated at a repetition rate of 100 kHz. To achieve this increased rate, a custom injection-seeded optical parametric oscillator was built to efficiently convert the 355 nm output of a high-energy, high-repetition-rate nanosecond burst-mode laser to 212.56 nm to excite Kr from the ground to the 5p[1/2]₀ electronic state. Successful tracking of flow structures and mixture fraction was demonstrated using detection speeds 100 times greater than previously attained with a femtosecond laser source. The increase in repetition rate makes time-resolved Kr PLIF relevant for high-speed flows in particular.

Fully resolved lineshape measurement of a seeded and unseeded optical parametric oscillator using a virtually imaged phased array spectrometer

Mode-resolved characterization of a nanosecond pulsed optical parametric oscillator (OPO) has been performed with a cross-dispersed virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) spectrometer during both free-running and partially injection-seeded operation. The spectrometer is designed around a 0.5  cm^-1 VIPA element with a measured spectral resolution of 220 MHz and a range of over 60  cm^-1. Full high-resolution lineshape measurements are obtained covering over 600 oscillating cavity modes on a commercial type I beta barium borate OPO during operation of the signal beam near 632.8 nm. Mean and fluctuating mode intensities are found to agree with previous studies of ultra-short OPO resonators. Furthermore, modulation of the broadband output due to the étalon characteristics of the nonlinear crystal produces clear fringes on the output lineshape, which have been observed for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Future application of VIPA spectrometers to pulsed OPOs will allow previously unattainable characterization of the entire OPO lineshape and enable monitoring and optimization of OPO spectral purity.

Simultaneous high-speed SO2 PLIF imaging and stereo-PIV measurements in premixed swirling flame at 20 kHz

Interactions between flow structures and premixed swirling flame were investigated using simultaneous sulfur dioxide (SO₂) planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) and stereoscopic particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) with high temporal resolution at 20 kHz. In this work, a premixed swirling flame was operated with methane and air doped with 0.5% (volume fraction) SO₂ at ambient pressure under different equivalence ratios (ϕ=0.7-1.2). The results show that global SO₂ PLIF signal shows a consistent response to the density ratio with the change of equivalence ratio, making it a good indicator for the high temperature zone and a very useful tool to study the global effect of equivalence ratio. In addition, the three-component flow structure is affected by the varying equivalence ratio and the structure of the inner recirculation zone changes accordingly. The transient results show that the circumferential velocity of some vortices outside the flame zone is inconsistent with that of the main flow and these vortices cause local flame contour curling and shedding. The high temporal resolution measurements provide more details for the study of the evolution of some isolated flame isles.

Quantitative 2-D OH thermometry using spectrally resolved planar laser-induced fluorescence

A novel method is presented for quantitative two-dimensional temperature measurement in combustion gases. This method, namely spectrally resolved planar laser-induced fluorescence thermometry, utilizes a high-power, wavelength-tunable and narrow-linewidth CW laser to access the spectral lineshapes of a key combustion intermediate, the hydroxyl radical (OH), and enables high-fidelity and calibration-free quantification of non-uniform temperature fields in complex reacting flows. Specifically, the R₁(11)/R₁(7) line pair of the OH A²Σ⁺-X²Π(0,0) rovibronic band was probed with laser radiation near 306.5 nm, and their fluorescence ratios were used to infer temperature. Preliminary demonstrations of this thermometry method were performed in a series of burner-stabilized CH₄-air flames.

Burst-mode OH/CH2O planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging of the heat release zone in an unsteady flame

The paper presents simultaneous high-speed (7.5 kHz) planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of formaldehyde (CH₂O) and the hydroxyl-radical (OH) for visualization of the flame structure and heat release zone in a non-premixed unsteady CH₄/O₂/N₂ flame. For this purpose, a dye laser designed for high-speed operation is pumped by the second-harmonic 532 nm output of a Nd:YAG burst-mode laser to produce a tunable, 566 nm beam. After frequency doubling a high-energy kHz-rate narrowband pulse train of approximately 2.2 mJ/pulse at 283 nm is used for excitation of the OH radical. Simultaneously, CH₂O is excited by the frequency-tripled output of the same Nd:YAG laser, providing a high-frequency pulse train over 10 ms in duration at high pulse energies (>100 mJ/pulse). The excitation energies enable signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of ~10 and ~60 for CH₂O and OH PLIF, respectively, using a single high-speed intensified CMOS camera equipped with an image doubler. This allows sufficient SNR for investigation of the temporal evolution of the primary heat release zone and the local flame structure at kHz rates from the spatial overlap of the OH- and CH₂O-PLIF signals.

Development of a three-legged, high-speed, burst-mode laser system for simultaneous measurements of velocity and scalars in reacting flows

We report the development of a three-legged, high-speed, high-energy, burst-mode laser system for the simultaneous measurement of velocity and key combustion species in turbulent reacting flows. The laser system is designed to simultaneously amplify a four-pulse sequence [including a doublet pulse for particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements] with variable pulse separations at a repetition rate up to 500 kHz and a burst duration of 1-10 ms. With the three-legged, burst-mode laser system, we demonstrate simultaneous measurements of velocity using PIV and planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging of hydroxyl and formaldehyde in a turbulent jet flame.

Generation of high-energy, kilohertz-rate narrowband tunable ultraviolet pulses using a burst-mode dye laser system

Typical commercial pulsed dye laser systems used in the generation of narrowband, tunable ultraviolet radiation for planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging are optimized for either high (∼5-10  kHz) repetition rates at comparatively low ultraviolet pulse energies (hundreds of microjoules) or high-output pulse energies (>10  mJ) at comparatively low repetition rates (∼10  Hz). In this work we use a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG burst-mode laser to pump a custom dye laser system for high pulse energies and repetition rates of 7.5, 10, and 20 kHz at 566 nm. The frequency-doubled output of over 2.2 mJ/pulse at 283 nm, which can be used for PLIF imaging of combustion radicals, is an order of magnitude higher per pulse energy as compared with continuously pulsed dye laser systems and is ∼3× higher in overall efficiency than a burst-mode optical parametric oscillator at similar wavelengths. The influence of repetition rate, pump energy, and dye concentration on the output conversion efficiency and pulse-to-pulse stability of the current system is discussed.

Ultra-high-speed PLIF imaging for simultaneous visualization of multiple species in turbulent flames

In order to obtain more detailed characteristics and information in highly turbulent flames, for a better understanding of the transient behavior of eddies in such flames, a measurement technique with sufficient temporal resolution is requested. However, the probing of species distributions relevant in combustion (e.g. OH, CH₂O) with ultra-high-speed laser diagnostics still remains a challenge. Nd:YAG clusters commercially available can generate only 4-8 pulses, although with high laser energy. Systems based on a diode-pumped solid-state Nd:YAG laser combined with a dye laser produce only about 100 μJ pulse energy at ultra-high repetition rates (≥50 kHz). Even more comprehensive information on the flame structure can be gained if simultaneous recording of multi-species is performed. In the present work, the development of the first ultra-high-speed diagnostic technique capable of simultaneous probing of hydroxyl radicals and formaldehyde distributions at a repetition rate of 50 kHz is outlined. This has been achieved by employing a burst laser pumped optical parametric oscillator system for the simultaneous detection of CH₂O excited at 355 nm and OH-radicals excited at 283 nm, where the interference of scattering laser light can be avoided. The applicability of the proposed technique was demonstrated in a highly turbulent jet flame. Moreover, the presented improvement in terms of the number of consecutive images recorded with ultra-high-speed planar laser induced fluorescence imaging is significant. Due to the high temporal resolution, the movement of CH₂O pocket enclosed by OH at the flame tip can be clearly captured. The transport velocity of the CH₂O pocket was calculated and found to be in good agreement with previous LDV results.

4D spatiotemporal evolution of combustion intermediates in turbulent flames using burst-mode volumetric laser-induced fluorescence

High-speed (20 kHz rate), volumetric laser-induced-fluorescence imaging of combustion intermediates such as a formaldehyde (CH₂O) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) species is demonstrated for tracking the four-dimensional (4D) evolution of turbulent flames. The third-harmonic, 355 nm output of a burst-mode Nd:YAG laser with a 130 mJ/pulse is expanded to 30 mm diameter for volume illumination of the base region of a methane-hydrogen jet diffusion flame. Eight simultaneous images from different viewing angles are used to collect the resulting fluorescence signal for reconstruction of 200 time-sequential three-dimensional volumes over 10 ms duration. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 300:1 is achieved after reconstruction with a temporal resolution of 100 ns and spatial resolution of 0.85-1.5 mm.

Simultaneous Burst Imaging of Dual Species Using Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence at 50 kHz in Turbulent Premixed Flames

Spatially and temporally resolved measurements are of great importance in turbulent premixed flame studies, especially when investigating rapid processes such as when flame local extinction, re-ignition, or flashback occur in a reacting flow. Here, an experimental approach for simultaneously probing two different species at high frame rates (50 kHz) is presented by employing a multi-YAG laser system. The laser radiation at 355 nm generated by a multi-YAG laser system was split into two beam paths: one beam for exciting formaldehyde and the other for pumping an optical parametric oscillator (OPO). To be able to capture the resulting fluorescence at such a high frame rate without significant loss in spatial resolution, two framing cameras, containing a total of 16 intensified charge-coupled devices (CCDs), were employed. In principle, the proposed setup provides the possibility of probing formaldehyde and simultaneously accessing the distribution of one other relevant species at this high frame rate. In this demonstration, the laser wavelength was tuned to 283 nm and, in conjunction with the 355 nm beam path, simultaneously high speed two-dimensional (2D) visualization of OH-radicals and formaldehyde was achieved. A modified flat flame, McKenna-type burner was used to provide a turbulent premixed jet-flame supported by a surrounding pilot flame. Local flame extinction and re-ignition processes were recorded for fuel/air jet speeds of 120 m/s.

100-kHz-rate gas-phase thermometry using 100-ps pulses from a burst-mode laser

Temperature measurements based on gas-phase coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectroscopy are demonstrated in reacting flows at a rate of 100 kHz employing a burst-mode laser with a pulse duration of ∼100  ps. The recently developed picosecond-duration, high-energy burst-mode laser is used to pump an optical parametric generator/optical parametric amplifier that produces broadband light centered at ∼680  nm to provide the Stokes beams for excitation of the rovibrational Raman transitions of H(2). The 532-nm output of the picosecond burst-mode laser is then utilized as a pump beam for the CARS process that generates 100 single-shot spectra at a rate of 100 kHz during the 1-ms duration burst. Coherent spectroscopy-based temperature measurements at 100 kHz will significantly aid the understanding of transient and unsteady flow phenomena related to turbulent combustion, transonic and hypersonic flows, high-enthalpy flows, and the dynamics of energetic materials.

Locating and classifying fluorescent tags behind turbid layers using time-resolved inversion

The use of fluorescent probes and the recovery of their lifetimes allow for significant advances in many imaging systems, in particular, medical imaging systems. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate reconstructing the locations and lifetimes of fluorescent markers hidden behind a turbid layer. This opens the door to various applications for non-invasive diagnosis, analysis, flowmetry and inspection. The method is based on a time-resolved measurement that captures information about both fluorescence lifetime and spatial position of the probes. To reconstruct the scene, the method relies on a sparse optimization framework to invert time-resolved measurements. This wide-angle technique does not rely on coherence, and does not require the probes to be directly in line of sight of the camera, making it potentially suitable for long-range imaging.

100-ps-pulse-duration, 100-J burst-mode laser for kHz-MHz flow diagnostics

A high-speed, master-oscillator power-amplifier burst-mode laser with ∼100  ps pulse duration is demonstrated with output energy up to 110 J per burst at 1064 nm and second-harmonic conversion efficiency up to 67% in a KD*P crystal. The output energy is distributed across 100 to 10,000 sequential laser pulses, with 10 kHz to 1 MHz repetition rate, respectively, over 10 ms burst duration. The performance of the 100 ps burst-mode laser is evaluated and been found to compare favorably with that of a similar design that employs a conventional ∼8  ns pulse duration. The nearly transform-limited spectral bandwidth of 0.15  cm(-1) at 532 nm is ideal for a wide range of linear and nonlinear spectroscopic techniques, and the 100 picosecond pulse duration is optimal for fiber-coupled spectroscopic measurements in harsh reacting-flow environments.

100 kHz, 100 ms, 400 J burst-mode laser with dual-wavelength diode-pumped amplifiers

The burst duration of an all-diode-pumped burst-mode laser is extended to 100 ms and 100 kHz (10,000 pulses) by utilizing dual-wavelength diode pumping. Total energies of 225 J at 10 kHz and 400 J at 100 kHz are achieved during the 100 ms burst period at 1064 nm. This represents an order-of-magnitude increase in the number of pulses compared with prior work, while maintaining similar or higher pulse energies. Amplitude tailoring of each pulse is used to flatten the burst profile, reducing the standard deviation in pulse energy over the 100 ms burst from 3.7% to 2.1% with a burst-to-burst standard deviation of 0.8%.

Continuous hydroxyl radical planar laser imaging at 50 kHz repetition rate

This study demonstrates high-repetition-rate planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging of hydroxyl radicals (OH) in flames at a continuous framing rate of 50 kHz. A frequency-doubled dye laser is pumped by the second harmonic of an Nd:YAG laser to generate laser radiation near 283 nm with a pulse width of 8 ns and rate of 50 kHz. Fluorescence is recorded by a two-stage image intensifier and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor camera. The average power of the 283 nm beam reaches 7 W, yielding a pulse energy of 140 μJ. Both a Hencken burner and a DC transient-arc plasmatron are used to produce premixed CH₄/air flames to evaluate the OH PLIF system. The average signal-to-noise ratio for the Hencken burner flame is greater than 20 near the flame front and greater than 10 further downstream in a region of the flame near equilibrium. Image sequences of the DC plasmatron discharge clearly illustrate development and evolution of flow features with signal levels comparable to those in the Hencken burner. The results are a demonstration of the ability to make high-fidelity OH PLIF measurements at 50 kHz using a Nd:YAG-pumped, frequency-doubled dye laser.

100 kHz thousand-frame burst-mode planar imaging in turbulent flames

High-repetition-rate, burst-mode lasers can achieve higher energies per pulse compared with continuously pulsed systems, but the relatively few number of laser pulses in each burst has limited the temporal dynamic range of measurements in unsteady flames. A fivefold increase in the range of timescales that can be resolved by burst-mode laser-based imaging systems is reported in this work by extending a hybrid diode- and flashlamp-pumped Nd:YAG-based amplifier system to nearly 1000 pulses at 100 kHz during a 10 ms burst. This enables an unprecedented burst-mode temporal dynamic range to capture turbulent fluctuations from 0.1 to 50 kHz in flames of practical interest. High pulse intensity enables efficient conversion to the ultraviolet for planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging of nascent formaldehyde and other potential flame radicals.

Micro-Optical Initiation of Nanoenergetic Materials Using a Temporally Tailored Variable-Pulse-Width Laser

Nanoenergetic materials can provide a significant enhancement in the rate of energy release as compared with microscale materials. The energy-release rate is strongly dependent not only on the primary particle size but also on the level of agglomeration, which is of particular interest for the inclusion of nanoenergetics in practical systems where agglomeration is desired or difficult to avoid. Unlike studies of nanoparticles or nanometer-size aggregates, which can be conducted with ultrafast or nanosecond lasers assuming uniform heating, microscale aggregates of nanoparticles are more sensitive to the thermophysical time scale of the heating process. To allow control over the rate of energy deposition during laser initiation studies, a custom, temporally tailored, continuously variable-pulse-width (VPW) laser was employed for radiative heating of nanoenergetic materials. The laser consisted of a continuous-wave master oscillator, which could be sliced into desired pulses, and a chain of amplifiers to reach high peak power. The slicer allowed control over the time profile of the pulses via the combination of an arbitrary waveform generator and acousto-optic modulator (AOM). The effects of utilizing flat-top or ramped laser pulses with durations from 100 ns to 150 μs and energies up to 20 mJ at 1064 nm were investigated, along with a broad range of heating rates for single particles or nanoparticle aggregates up to 100-μm diameter. In combination with an optical microscope, laser heating of aggregates consisting of 70-nm diameter Al nanoparticles in a Teflon matrix showed significant dependence on the heating profile due to the sensitivity of nanoenergetic materials to heating rate. The ability to control the temporal pulse-intensity profile leads to greater control over the effects of ablative heating and the resulting shockwave propagation. Hence, flexible laser-pulse profiles allow the investigation of energetic properties for a wide size range of metal/metal-oxide nanoparticles, aggregates, and composites.

All-diode-pumped quasi-continuous burst-mode laser for extended high-speed planar imaging

An all-diode-pumped, multistage Nd:YAG amplifier is investigated as a means of extending the duration of high-power, burst-mode laser pulse sequences to an unprecedented 30 ms or more. The laser generates 120 mJ per pulse at 1064.3 nm with a repetition rate of 10 kHz, which is sufficient for a wide range of planar laser diagnostics based on fluorescence, Raman scattering, and Rayleigh scattering, among others. The utility of the technique is evaluated for image sequences of formaldehyde fluorescence in a lifted methane-air diffusion flame. The advantages and limitations of diode pumping are discussed, along with long-pulse diode-bar performance characteristics to guide future designs.

Nitric-oxide planar laser-induced fluorescence at 10 kHz in a seeded flow, a plasma discharge, and a flame

This study demonstrates high-repetition-rate planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging of both cold (~300 K) and hot (~2400 K) nitric oxide (NO) at a framing rate of 10 kHz. The laser system is composed of a frequency-doubled dye laser pumped by the third harmonic of a 10 kHz Nd:YAG laser to generate continuously pulsed laser radiation at 226 nm for excitation of NO. The laser-induced fluorescence signal is detected using a high-frame rate, intensified CMOS camera, yielding a continuous cinematographic propagation of the NO plume where data acquisition duration is limited only by camera memory. The pulse energy of the beam is ~20 μJ with a spectral width ~0.15 cm(-1), though energies as high as 40 μJ were generated. Hot NO is generated by passing air through a DC transient-arc plasma torch that dissociates air. The plasma torch is also used to ignite and sustain a CH(4)/air premixed flame. Cold NO is imaged from a 1% NO flow (buffered by nitrogen). The estimated signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the cold seeded flow and air plasma exceeds 50 with expected NO concentrations of 6000-8000 parts per million (ppm, volume basis). Images show distinct, high-contrast boundaries. The plasma-assisted flame images have an SNR of less than 10 for concentrations reaching 1000 ppm. For many combustion applications, the pulse energy is insufficient for PLIF measurements. However, the equipment and strategies herein could be applied to high-frequency line imaging of NO at concentrations of 10-100 ppm. Generation of 226 nm radiation was also performed using sum-frequency mixing of the 532 nm pumped dye laser and 355 nm Nd:YAG third harmonic but was limited in energy to 14 μJ. Frequency tripling a 532 nm pumped dye laser produced 226 nm radiation at energies comparable to the 355 nm pumping scheme.

Power instability of singly resonant optical parametric oscillators: theory and experiment

We present a theoretical model on the effects of mechanical perturbations on the output power instability of singly-resonant optical parametric oscillators (SR-OPOs). Numerical simulations are performed based on real experimental parameters associated with a SR-OPO designed in our laboratory, which uses periodically-poled LiNbO3 (PPLN) as the nonlinear crystal, where the results of the theoretical model are compared with the measurements. The out-coupled power instability is simulated for a wide range of input pump powers the SR-OPO oscillation threshold. From the results, maximum instability is found to occur at an input pump power of ~1.5 times above the OPO threshold. It is also shown theoretically that the idler instability is susceptible to variations in the cavity length caused by vibrations, with longer cavities capable of generating more stable output power. The validity of the theoretical model is verified experimentally by using a mechanical vibrator in order to vary the SR-OPO resonator length over one cavity mode spacing. It is found that at 1.62 times threshold, the out-coupled idler suffers maximum instability. The results of experimental measurements confirm good agreement with the theoretical model. An intracavity etalon is finally used to improve the idler output power by a factor of ~2.2 at an input pump power of 1.79 times oscillation threshold.

Ultrahigh laser pulse energy and power generation at 10 kHz

This Letter presents results from a new master-oscillator, power-amplifier pulse-burst laser system demonstrating ultrahigh pulse energies greater than 2.0 J/pulse at 1064 nm with interpulse separations of 100 μs (10 kHz) for burst durations of 100 pulses. Each pulse generates peak powers exceeding 130 MW and an average power of approximately 20 kW is generated over a 100-pulse-burst. Pulse energies decrease by less than 10% over a 100 sequential pulses, demonstrating negligible "droop" over long-duration pulse trains. Second-harmonic generation of 532 nm with conversion efficiency greater than 50% is demonstrated for 100-pulse-burst durations.

Characterization of a CH planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging system using a kHz-rate multimode-pumped optical parametric oscillator

The performance characteristics of a new CH planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging system composed of a kHz-rate multimode-pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO) and high-speed intensified CMOS camera are investigated in laminar and turbulent CH4-H2-air flames. A multi-channel Nd:YAG cluster that produces up to 225 mJ at 355 nm with multiple-pulse spacing of 100 μs (corresponding to 10 kHz) is used to pump an OPO to produce up to 6 mJ at 431 nm for direct excitation of the A-X (0, 0) band of the CH radical. Single-shot signal-to-noise ratios of 82:1 and 7.5:1 are recorded in laminar premixed flames relative to noise in the background and within the flame layer, respectively. The spatial resolution and image quality are sufficient to accurately measure the CH layer thickness of ~0.4 mm while imaging the detailed evolution of turbulent flame structures over a 20 mm span. Background interferences due to polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbons and Rayleigh scattering are minimized and, along with signal linearity, allow semi-quantitative analysis of CH signals on a shot-to-shot basis. The effects of design features, such as cavity finesse and passive injection seeding, on conversion efficiency, stability, and linewidth of the OPO output are also discussed.

Quasi-continuous burst-mode laser for high-speed planar imaging

The pulse-burst duration of a compact burst-mode Nd:YAG laser is extended by one order of magnitude compared to previous flashlamp-pumped designs by incorporating a fiber oscillator and diode-pumped solid-state amplifiers. The laser has a linewidth of <2 GHz at 1064.3 nm with 150 mJ per individual pulse at 10 kHz. The performance of the system is evaluated by using the third-harmonic output at 354.8 nm for high-speed planar laser-induced fluorescence of formaldehyde in a lifted methane-air diffusion flame. A total of 100 and 200 sequential images of unsteady fluid-flame interactions are acquired at repetition rates of 10 kHz and 20 kHz, respectively.

High-speed CH planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging using a multimode-pumped optical parametric oscillator

We report on high-speed CH planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging in turbulent diffusion flames using a multimode-pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The OPO is pumped by the third-harmonic output of a multimode Nd:YAG cluster for direct signal excitation in the A-X (0,0) band of the CH radical. The lasing threshold, conversion efficiency, and linewidth are shown to depend on the number of pump passes in the ring cavity of the OPO. Single-shot CH PLIF images are acquired at 10 kHz with excitation energy up to 6 mJ/pulse at 431.1 nm. Signal-to-noise ratios of ~25-35 are the highest yet reported for high-speed CH PLIF.

MHz-rate nitric oxide planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging in a Mach 10 hypersonic wind tunnel

Nitric oxide planar laser-induced fluorescence (NO PLIF) imaging at repetition rates as high as 1 MHz is demonstrated in the NASA Langley 31 in. Mach 10 hypersonic wind tunnel. Approximately 200 time-correlated image sequences of between 10 and 20 individual frames were obtained over eight days of wind tunnel testing spanning two entries in March and September of 2009. The image sequences presented were obtained from the boundary layer of a 20° flat plate model, in which transition was induced using a variety of different shaped protuberances, including a cylinder and a triangle. The high-speed image sequences captured a variety of laminar and transitional flow phenomena, ranging from mostly laminar flow, typically at a lower Reynolds number and/or in the near wall region of the model, to highly transitional flow in which the temporal evolution and progression of characteristic streak instabilities and/or corkscrew-shaped vortices could be clearly identified.

Comparison of line-peak and line-scanning excitation in two-color laser-induced-fluorescence thermometry of OH

Two-line laser-induced-fluorescence (LIF) thermometry is commonly employed to generate instantaneous planar maps of temperature in unsteady flames. The use of line scanning to extract the ratio of integrated intensities is less common because it precludes instantaneous measurements. Recent advances in the energy output of high-speed, ultraviolet, optical parameter oscillators have made possible the rapid scanning of molecular rovibrational transitions and, hence, the potential to extract information on gas-phase temperatures. In the current study, two-line OH LIF thermometry is performed in a well-calibrated reacting flow for the purpose of comparing the relative accuracy of various line-pair selections from the literature and quantifying the differences between peak-intensity and spectrally integrated line ratios. Investigated are the effects of collisional quenching, laser absorption, and the integration width for partial scanning of closely spaced lines on the measured temperatures. Data from excitation scans are compared with theoretical line shapes, and experimentally derived temperatures are compared with numerical predictions that were previously validated using coherent anti-Stokes-Raman scattering. Ratios of four pairs of transitions in the A2Sigma+<--X2Pi (1,0) band of OH are collected in an atmospheric-pressure, near-adiabatic hydrogen-air flame over a wide range of equivalence ratios--from 0.4 to 1.4. It is observed that measured temperatures based on the ratio of Q1(14)/Q1(5) transition lines result in the best accuracy and that line scanning improves the measurement accuracy by as much as threefold at low-equivalence-ratio, low-temperature conditions. These results provide a comprehensive analysis of the procedures required to ensure accurate two-line LIF measurements in reacting flows over a wide range of conditions.