Abstract

We have developed a new tunable 1.7μm F-Center laser spectrometer and have used it to measure the spectra and temperature of several gases such as methane and ethylene in the atmosphere and of HCl and water vapor at high temperature. The system has been used to measure the linestrength and pressure broadened linewidth of HCl under high temperature conditions (such as those expected in the Space Shuttle Exhaust Plume) and has also been used to determine the interference due to hot H₂O under similar conditions. Our interest in the experimental determination of the HCl absorption data is motivated by our goal of developing a pulsed (HD Raman Shifted Nd:Glass) tunable 1.7μm DIAL system for the range resolved remote sensing of the temperature inside of a Rocket Plume. Lastly, this system is also being used to measure methane gas in the atmosphere remotely via fiber-optic cables.

© 1991 Optical Society of America