Effective A-state fluorescence lifetime of formaldehyde in atmospheric pressure CH 4 /air flames

Abstract

Using excitation pulses of ∼30-ps duration and a fast photomultiplier detector, effective fluorescence lifetimes of the A-stateof formaldehyde after excitation at 355 and 339 nm have been measured in the preheating zone of an atmospheric pressure, premixed methane/air flame. The fluorescence lifetimes were determined as a function of height above the exit of a slot burner and were thus probed in regions of varying gas temperature and composition. The fluorescence lifetimes were independent of the intensity of the excitation pulse and decreased as a function of height in the burner from ∼18±8 ns at 1.2 mm down to 7±1 ns at 3.8 mm. This trend of the effective fluorescence lifetime with composition and temperature in the flame can qualitatively be reproduced using calculated major species mole fractions and species-specific quenching cross sections for CH from the literature.