Energy transfer in the A2Σ+ state of OH following v’ = 1 excitation in a low pressure CH4/O2-flame

2 Σ⁺(v’=1) level of OH. Measurements were performed in a laminar premixed flame at 10 Torr total pressure. The low pressure allowed the spatial variation of the effective quenching rate to be determined through the flame front. In addition, the dependence of the quenching rate on rotational quantum number was measured by exciting a series of rotational lines in the range N’=0–16. The results show that the total quenching rate decreases only 17% through the flame front, in the region where OH can be detected. Nevertheless, the absolute value of the quenching rate Q is required if absolute concentrations are to be determined from LIF-signals. The variation both of Q and of the rotational relaxation rate with excited rotational quantum state must be known for quantification of LIF-temperature measurements via the Boltzmann relation. Finally, the rotational and vibrational energy transfer (RET, VET), was investigated by recording the spectrally and temporally resolved fluorescence. For all excited rotational lines, efficient RET to neighbouring rotational states was observed, but only very little VET. Total RET rates were determined from the difference between the time-resolved broadband (total fluorescence) and narrowband (fluorescence from the laser excited level) curves. The experimental results were compared with simulations using a dynamic model, which describes the energy transfer for flame conditions. With the available input data (temperature, major species concentrations and collision-partner specific RET cross sections), good agreement was obtained. Received: 3 February 1997/Revised version: 3 September 1997     

Quenching of fluorescence from Na(32P) and K(42P) atoms following photodissociation of NaCl and KCl at 193 nm

 Quenching of fluorescence from Na(3² P) and K(4² P) atoms by various collision partners was studied at 973 and 1273K. Excited alkali atoms were produced photolytically by excimer laser light at 193nm. For each collision pair, the appropriate relative velocity was computed and used to evaluate the quenching cross-section from the measured rate constants. Cross sections for CO₂, O₂ and N₂ are large (10–60Ų) while for Ar, the values are <1 Ų. The results are compared with those of previous investigations as a function of relative velocity. Finally, implications for combustion diagnostics are briefly discussed. Received: 29 March 1996     

Reactions of O 3PJ atoms with halogens: The rate constants for the elementary reactions O + BrCl,O + Br2, and O + Cl2

Direct determinations of the rate constants (cm³/molec · sec) k₁, k₂, and k₃ from 298 to 299°K are reported, using atomic resonance fluorescence in discharge flow systems:

1 One standard deviation.

The rate constant k₁, which has not been determined previously, was found to possess an insignificant temperature coefficient (E_A = (0 ± 700) J/mole) in the range of 299 to 619°K. The present result for k₂ agrees well with reinterpreted values from the one previous determination. Measurements of O atom consumption rates and Br atom production rates in the O + Br₂ reaction are interpreted to give an estimate of the rate constant k₄, which has not been reported previously, at 298°K: k₃ has been measured at three temperatures between 299 and 602°K. The present and previous results for k₃ were combined to give the following rate expression:      

Time and spatially resolved LIF of OH A 2Σ+(v′=1) in atmospheric-pressure flames using picosecond excitation

One dimensional imaging of fluorescence lifetimes was performed directly for the first time in a premixed, atmospheric-pressure ethylene/air flame. A picosecond laser system based on the microscope-DFDL (Distributed-Feedback Dye Laser) was used for excitation of OH. The method involves imaging a section of the flame onto the streak camera and evaluating a series of windows, each with a certain number of channels of the CCD-multichannel plate. In this way, changes in quenching efficiency can be monitored along a horizontal line through the flame. These direct lifetime measurements confirm the observations of relative lifetimes previously obtained for this flame by saturated 2D-LIF.     

Two-dimensional visualization of the flame front in an internal combustion engine by laser-induced fluorescence of OH radicals

Two-dimensional laser-induced fluorescence (2D-LIF) imaging of OH radicals, excited at 308 nm, has been employed to visualize the flame front in an internal combustion engine burning air/propane mixtures. Light sheet thicknesses down to 70 m have been attained for excitation. Hydroxyl radicals were detected up to pressures of 7.5 bar at engine speeds of 500 rpm. An upper limit of 300 m for the flame front thickness was obtained from line intensity profiles.     

Preconditioned iterative methods for coupled discretizations of fluid flow problems

Computational fluid dynamics, where simulations require largecomputation times, is one of the areas of application of highperformance computing. Schemes such as the SIMPLE (semi-implicitmethod for pressure-linked equations) algorithm are often usedto solve the discrete Navier-Stokes equations. Generally theseschemes take a short time per iteration but require a largenumber of iterations. For simple geometries (or coarser grids)the overall CPU time is small. However, for finer grids or morecomplex geometries the increase in the number of iterationsmay be a drawback and the decoupling of the differential equationsinvolved implies a slow convergence of rotationally dominatedproblems that can be very time consuming for realistic applications.So we analyze here another approach, DIRECTO, that solves theequations in a coupled way. With recent advances in hardwaretechnology and software design, it became possible to solvecoupled Navier-Stokes systems, which are more robust but implyincreasing computational requirements (both in terms of memoryand CPU time). Two approaches are described here (band blockLU factorization and preconditioned GMRES) for the linear solverrequired by the DIRECTO algorithm that solves the fluid flowequations as a coupled system. Comparisons of the effectivenessof incomplete factorization preconditioners applied to the GMRES(generalized minimum residual) method are shown. Some numericalresults are presented showing that it is possible to minimizeconsiderably the CPU time of the coupled approach so that itcan be faster than the decoupled one.     

Preparation, structural analysis and dielectric properties of Bi x La1−x FeO3 perovskite

Rare earth element substituted bismuth ferrites (BiFeO₃) are of enormous importance as magnetoelectric materials. The polycrystalline samples of Bi _x La_1−x FeO₃ (x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) were prepared by solid-state reaction using standard ceramic method. The single-phase formation of these compounds was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The samples with x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 are found to be orthorhombic while the sample with x=0.8 is triclinic. The dielectric constant (ε′) and dissipation factor (tan δ) were measured in the frequency range 100 Hz to 1 MHz at room temperature and as a function of temperature at certain fixed frequencies (1 kHz, 10 kHz, 100 kHz, 1 MHz). All the samples showed dielectric dispersion. The dielectric constant with temperature shows a broad peak; the peak temperature shifts with frequency which reflects the relaxor-type behavior. The peak above 600 K in the measured temperature range corresponds to antiferromagnetic ordering temperature (Néel temperature). The broadness of the peak changes with composition. The ac conductivity as well as ε′ are found to be maximum for the sample x=0.2 at room temperature.     

Energy transfer in collisions of Ar(3P0,2 metastable atoms with H(2S) atoms. I. Total rate constant and mechanism

The Ar(4s,³P₂) + H(1S,²S) reaction, which gives excited H(n=2) atoms, has been studied. The room temperature rate constant for Lyman-α (2p-1s) excitation was measured as 2.4 × 10^?10 cm³ mol^?1 s^?1. The method was based upon comparison of the Lyman-α emission intensity with the Kr resonance emission intensity produced from Ar(³P₂) + Kr, which has a known rate constant. The H atom excitation, which has a large energy defect of 1.3 eV, is discussed in terms of a curve crossing mechanism.