Spatially Resolved Temperature Determination in I2 Gas Using Doppler-Limited Saturation Spectroscopy

<p>Saturation spectroscopy techniques were used to demonstrate the ability to make spatially resolved temperature measurements by exploiting the electronic transition in molecular iodine. Doppler-free saturation spectroscopy measurements resulted in hyperfine spectral profiles for the P(70) 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 cel1s 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 lodine Laser (COIL) which is the high power directed energy source for ABL has a low concentration 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.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>