Abstract

The infrared and ultraviolet radiation emitted by excited species in low-pressure gaseous oxygen-acetylene explosions is studied with a view toward establishing the population distribution of selected energy levels. In the ultraviolet, cavity techniques are employed, and a relative enhancement of several electronic transitions in CH and OH radicals is observed. In the infrared, the emission from excited CO₂ molecules is studied immediately following the passage of a fast chemical detonation wave and evidence is found for an enhanced population of the high vibrational levels of CO₂ molecules in the ¹∑ state. It is suggested that this technique may be widely applicable as a tool for determining initial vibrational population distributions of newly formed molecules.

© 1965 Optical Society of America

Vibrational-Rotational Population Inversion

J. C. Polanyi
Appl. Opt. 4(S1) 109-127 (1965)

Inverted Population Distributions Produced by Chemical Reactions

H. P. Broida
Appl. Opt. 4(S1) 105-108 (1965)

Nonequilibrium Chemical Excitation and Chemical Pumping of Lasers

Kurt E. Shuler, Tucker Carrington, and John C. Light
Appl. Opt. 4(S1) 81-104 (1965)

Explosion Flame Emission

John A. Howe
Appl. Opt. 4(S1) 184-186 (1965)

Laser Possibilities of Chemically Excited Molecules Formed with Atomic Species

T. T. Kikuchi and H. P. Broida
Appl. Opt. 4(S1) 171-178 (1965)