Laser diagnostics of molecular states in nonequilibrium gas flows

Laser diagnostics techniques are developed, and some typical results are presented on the vibrational CO₂ molecule level population measurements under highly nonequilibrium conditions for two types of flows: (i) in a conventional gasdynamic lasers and (ii) in a flow mixing gasdynamic laser. The measuring procedure is based on recording spectral gain coefficient distributions at several resolved rotational transitions of different vibrational bands. The laser optical system with spatial selection of single lines is described. The system allows fast (about 10^–5–10^–4 s) line tuning, thus providing a variable and arbitrary choice of the selected line sequences. The optimum choice of the laser generation spectrum is discussed, and the sources of measuring uncertainties are analyzed. Typical illustrations and results are given and discussed.