GALCIT Colloquium

Temporally- and spatially-resolved optical sensing of species and fundamental thermodynamic properties (e.g. temperature) in reacting flows provides direct information regarding the competition of chemical kinetics with mass and energy transport phenomena. In this seminar, recent advancements in laser absorption spectroscopy for harsh, high-temperature and high-pressure reacting flows will be presented through the lens of applications in chemical propulsion and planetary entry.  Specifically, a novel laser absorption imaging (LAI) technique is introduced for quantitative and time-resolved sensing of select species in two- and three-dimensional flow fields to investigate high-temperature gas dynamics.  Current directions and broader research opportunities in applied laser absorption spectroscopy for high-pressure flows up to 100 bar will also be discussed.