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

100-kHz carbon monoxide TP-PLIF imaging using ultra-narrow-linewidth burst-mode OPO

A 100-kHz rate two-photon planar laser-induced fluorescence (TP-PLIF) imaging of carbon monoxide (CO) is successfully demonstrated utilizing a narrow-linewidth optical parametric oscillator (OPO) generating light at ∼230.1 nm. A specially designed injection-seeded burst-mode OPO was constructed and characterized for this purpose. This OPO efficiently converts the 355-nm output of a high-energy nanosecond burst-mode laser to ∼230.1 nm following parametric splitting and mixing processes. Generation of an ultra-narrow-linewidth 230.1 nm laser pulse is crucial for effectively exciting CO via a two-photon process from the ground X1Σ+ to the B1Σ+ electronic state-enabling PLIF imaging over a large area. The experimental setup is capable of tracking high-speed flow structures of a CO/N2 mixture, showcasing detection speeds 100 times greater than those achieved with previous femtosecond laser sources. This substantial increase in repetition rate will allow time-resolved CO-TP-PLIF measurements in highly dynamic hypersonic boundary layers and detonation-driven combustion processes for revealing chemical kinetics and turbulent aerodynamics.

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.

Simultaneous two-plane flame front detection using PIV based on defocusing

This Letter presents a simultaneous two-plane flame front detection method. It is based on a standard single-camera single-plane particle image velocimetry (PIV) system in combination with an inexpensive and compact image splitting device. The image splitting optics places images from two depth-offset planes onto the two halves of a camera sensor. A shallow depth of field ensures only one plane is in focus on each half of the sensor. By using a high-pass filter and a novel two-step filter we have devised, the out-of-focus particle images are effectively removed, while the in-focus particle images remain, allowing the turbulent flame fronts on two planes to be detected simultaneously. Our approach could be combined with conventional polarization/wavelength discrimination methods to achieve simultaneous multi-plane flame front reconstruction with similarly high in-plane spatial resolution to single-plane measurement and is suitable for practical combustion devices with limited optical access.

OH planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging system using a kilohertz-rate 283 nm UV Ti:sapphire laser

A narrow linewidth Ti:sapphire laser is developed and characterized for the generation of an ultraviolet nanosecond laser pulses for the planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging of hydroxyl (OH). With a pump power of 11.4 W at 1 kHz, the Ti:sapphire laser produces 3.5 mJ at 849 nm with pulse duration of 17 ns and achieves a conversion efficiency of 28.2%. Accordingly, its third-harmonic generation outputs 0.56 mJ at 283 nm in BBO with type I phase match. An OH PLIF imaging system has been built; a 1 to 4 kHz fluorescent image of OH of a propane Bunsen burner has been captured based on this laser system.

Recent progress in high-speed laser diagnostics for hypersonic flows [Invited]

The recent progress in high-speed (≥100k H z) laser diagnostics for hypersonic flows is reviewed. Owing to the ultrahigh flow speed, a laser frequency of 100 kHz or higher is required for hypersonic diagnostics. Here, two main laser diagnostic techniques are discussed: focused laser differential interferometry (FLDI) and pulse-burst laser-based diagnostics. Single- and multiple-point FLDI measurements have been widely applied to hypersonic flows for flow velocity and density fluctuation measurements. The progress of pulse-burst laser-based hypersonic diagnostics, including flow velocity measurements and 2D flow visualization, is also discussed.

Pump-probe strategy for instantaneous 2D detection of CH3 in flames using a single laser

Visualization of the reaction zone of flames using CH radicals as markers is restricted by the low concentration of CH in fuel-lean conditions. To address this, methyl radicals (CH₃) are employed as a substitution of CH in premixed methane/air flames. A pump-probe method was adopted with the pump laser photolyzing CH₃ and the probe laser detecting the photolyzed CH (X²Π) fragments. Laser excitation scans were performed to ensure that the fluorescence detected was from CH only. Visualization of the reaction zone of flames was accomplished by a CH₃ photofragmentation laser-induced fluorescence technique in fuel-lean conditions (the equivalence ratio of 0.4), where CH planar laser-induced fluorescence did not work in both laminar and turbulent jet flames. The proposed pump-probe method of CH₃ can be used to visualize the reaction zone of hydrocarbon combustion under both fuel-lean and fuel-rich conditions with a superior signal-to-noise ratio.

0.1-5 MHz ultrahigh-speed gas density distributions using digital holographic interferometry

Gas density distributions for an underexpanded jet at several different pressure ratios were measured at ultrahigh speeds in this work using digital holographic interferometry (DHI). DHI measurements have generally been performed on the order of several Hz in the literature, although some recent groups report measurements at 10 and 100 kHz. We demonstrate 2D imaging of gas density distributions at imaging rates up to 5 MHz, which is an increase by a factor of 50 compared to the previous DHI literature. A narrow-linewidth, continuous-wave laser was used in a Mach-Zehnder configuration, and the holograms were recorded using one of two different CMOS cameras. The interferograms were analyzed using the Fourier method, and a phase unwrapping was performed. Axisymmetric flow was assumed for the region near the nozzle exit, and an Abel inversion was performed to generate a planar-slice gas density distribution from the line-of-sight unwrapped phase. The challenges and opportunities associated with performing DHI measurements at ultrahigh speeds are discussed.

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.

Laser-induced fluorescence thermometry of supercritical CO2 flows inside a micro-channel

This work demonstrates a thermometric technique using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) in supercritical carbon dioxide flows in a micro-channel. Rhodamine 6G was used as a temperature-sensitive fluorescent dye. The flow conditions were at a pressure of 7.9 MPa and temperature in the range of 23°-90°C. 2D spatial distributions and time-resolved temperature profiles were obtained at this high pressure. Measured LIF signals showed close relations to the temperatures obtained from resistance temperature detectors.