Quantitative determination of combustion intermediates with cavity ring-down spectroscopy: systematic study in propene flames near the soot-formation limit

Schocker A, Kohse-Höinghaus K, Brockhinke A. Quantitative determination of combustion intermediates with cavity ring-down spectroscopy: systematic study in propene flames near the soot-formation limit. APPLIED OPTICS. 2005;44(31):6660-6672.Cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) was applied in several fuel-rich, one-dimensional, premixed C3H6/O-2/Ar flames at 50 mbars (37.5 torr) to measure absolute OH, HCO, and (CH2)-C-1 concentration as well as temperature as a function of stoichiometry. Although these flames near the sooting limit present a complex chemical environment, significant spectral interferences were found to be absent. Specific aspects of the CRDS technique for measurement of temperature and radical concentration profiles are discussed; and the results are analyzed in comparison with flame model simulations. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America