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Abstract:

The first application of a novel single-mode tunable laser system to nonlinear spectroscopy is reported. The device uses a modeless dye laser, pumped by a single longitudinal mode (SLM) Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, as a narrow-bandwidth amplifier of the output of a SLM diode laser. The system provides pulses of 5-ns duration, 30-mJ energy and 165-MHz spectral line width tunable in the range 632-639 run at 10-Hz repetition rate. The frequency-doubled output of the laser is used to record spectral line shapes of degenerate four wave mixing (DFWM) signals from the P1(15) line of the A2σ-X2π (0, 0) band of OH in a methane/ oxygen flame. Pressure broadening of the DFWM line shape is studied for the first time in a low-pressure flame and a pressure-broadening rate of 1.31 ± 0.09 × 10-4 cm-1/Torr is derived from the data. Powerbroadening effects are measured and compared with predictions of the standard perturbative model and of an analytical solution derived from a non-perturbative treatment of DFWM with arbitrary pump and probe intensities.

Abstract:

Nonlinear optical techniques for combustion diagnostics place stringent demands on the lasers employed. High resolution techniques require narrow bandwidth, preferably single longitudinal mode (SLM), combined with wide tunability and high power. A particular aim of our work is to provide a suitable device for nonlinear optical spectroscopy in the mid-infra-red for diagnostics of hydrocarbon radicals. We report the development of a laser device with the desired properties and its application to high resolution spectroscopy of combustion species. The system is based on a modeless laser used as a narrow bandwidth amplifier (NBA) of radiation from a widely tunable, SLM, diode laser. When pumped by 200 mJ of energy from a frequency doubled, SLM, Nd:Yag laser the system provides output pulses of up to 30 mJ energy in a transform limited bandwidth of <200 MHz, or 0.006 cm^-1. The single mode frequency is continuously tunable over the diode range of 10 nm. Application of the system to combustion diagnostics is demonstrated by high resolution DFWM spectroscopy of OH in a methane/air flame. Resolution of the spectral lineshape is shown to distinguish effects of Doppler and homogeneous broadening. Applications of the system to other spectroscopic techniques and spectral regions will be reported. © 2003 IOP Publishing Ltd.