No abstract

Many important scientific questions in physics, chemistry and biology require effective methodologies to spectroscopically probe ultrafast intra- and inter-atomic/molecular dynamics. However, current methods that extend into the femtosecond regime are capable of only point measurements or single-snapshot visualizations and thus lack the capability to perform ultrafast spectroscopic videography of dynamic single events. Here we present a laser-probe-based method that enables two-dimensional videography at ultrafast timescales (femtosecond and shorter) of single, non-repetitive events. The method is based on superimposing a structural code onto the illumination to encrypt a single event, which is then deciphered in a post-processing step. This coding strategy enables laser probing with arbitrary wavelengths/bandwidths to collect signals with indiscriminate spectral information, thus allowing for ultrafast videography with full spectroscopic capability. To demonstrate the high temporal resolution of our method, we present videography of light propagation with record high 200 femtosecond temporal resolution. The method is widely applicable for studying a multitude of dynamical processes in physics, chemistry and biology over a wide range of time scales. Because the minimum frame separation (temporal resolution) is dictated by only the laser pulse duration, attosecond-laser technology may further increase video rates by several orders of magnitude.

Abstract:Translational, rotational, vibrational and electron temperatures of a gliding arc discharge in atmospheric pressure air were experimentally investigated using in situ, nonintrusive optical diagnostic techniques. The gliding arc discharge was driven by a 35 kHz alternating current (AC) power source and operated in a glow-type regime. The twodimensional distribution of the translational temperature (T t ) of the gliding arc discharge was determined using planar laser-induced Rayleigh scattering. The rotational and vibrational temperatures were obtained by simulating the experimental spectra. The OH A-X (0, 0) band was used to simulate the rotational temperature (T r ) of the gliding arc discharge whereas the NO A-X (1, 0) and (0, 1) bands were used to determine its vibrational temperature (T v ). The instantaneous reduced electric field strength E/N was obtained by simultaneously measuring the instantaneous length of the plasma column, the discharge voltage and the translational temperature, from which the electron temperature (T e ) of the gliding arc discharge was estimated. The uncertainties of the translational, rotational, vibrational and electron temperatures were analyzed. The relations of these four different temperatures (T e >T v >T r >T t ) suggest a high-degree non-equilibrium state of the gliding arc discharge. Phys. 79(5), 2245-2250 (1996). 3. A. Czernichowski, "Gliding arc -applications to engineering and environment control," Pure Appl. Chem.

A non-thermal gliding arc discharge was generated at atmospheric pressure in an air flow. The dynamics of the plasma column and tracer particles were recorded using two synchronized high-speed cameras. Whereas the data analysis for such systems has previously been performed in 2D (analyzing the single camera image), we provide here a 3D data analysis that includes 3D reconstructions of the plasma column and 3D particle tracking velocimetry based on discrete tomography methods. The 3D analysis, in particular, the determination of the 3D slip velocity between the plasma column and the gas flow, gives more realistic insight into the convection cooling process. Additionally, with the determination of the 3D slip velocity and the 3D length of the plasma column, we give more accurate estimates for the drag force, the electric field strength, the power per unit length, and the radius of the conducting zone of the plasma column.

Irradiating a flame via microwave radiation is a plasma-assisted combustion (PAC) technology that can be used to modify the combustion chemical kinetics in order to improve flame stability and to delay lean blow-out. One practical implication is that combustion engines may be able to operate with leaner fuel mixtures and have an improved fuel flexibility capability including biofuels. Furthermore, this technology may assist in reducing thermoacoustic instabilities, which is a phenomenon that may severely damage the engine and increase NO X production. To further understand microwave-assisted combustion, a skeletal kinetic reaction mechanism for methane−air combustion is developed and presented. The mechanism is detailed enough to take into account relevant features, but sufficiently small to be implemented in large eddy simulations (LES) of turbulent combustion. The mechanism consists of a proposed skeletal methane−air reaction mechanism accompanied by subsets for ozone, singlet oxygen, chemionization, and electron impact reactions. The baseline skeletal methane−air mechanism contains 17 species and 42 reactions, and it predicts the ignition delay time, flame temperature, flame speed, major species, and most minor species well, in addition to the extinction strain, compared to the detailed GRI 3.0 reaction mechanism. The amended skeletal reaction mechanism consists of 27 species and 80 reactions and is developed for a reduced electric field E/N below the critical field strength (of ∼125 Td) for the formation of a microwave breakdown plasma. Both laminar and turbulent flame simulation studies are carried out with the proposed skeletal reaction mechanism. The turbulent flame studies consist of propagating planar flames in homogeneous isotropic turbulence in the reaction sheets and the flamelets in eddies regimes, and a turbulent low-swirl flame. A comparison with experimental data is performed for a turbulent low-swirl flame. The results suggest that we can influence both laminar and turbulent flames by nonthermal plasmas, based on microwave irradiation. The laminar flame speed increases more than the turbulent flame speed, but the radical pool created by the microwave irradiation significantly increases the lean blow-out limits of the turbulent flame, thus making it less vulnerable to thermoacoustic combustion oscillations. Apart from the experimental results from low-swirl flame presented here, experimental data for validation of the simulated trends are scarce, and conclusions build largely on simulation results. Analysis of chemical kinetics from simulations of laminar flames and LES on turbulent flames reveal that singlet oxygen molecule is of key importance for the increased reactivity, accompanied by production of radicals such as O and OH.