Temperature measurements in shock tubes using a laser-based absorption technique

Abstract

A laser-based technique for monitoring temperature in shock tube flows is reported. The method employs a rapid-tuning ring-dye laser to record the fully resolved absorption spectrum of the R(1)(7) and R(1)(11) lines of OH near 306.5 nm. The temperature is inferred from the ratio of the peak absorption coefficients of the two lines. Comparisons with calculated reflected shock temperatures show agreement within +/-3% for the 1300-3500 K range.