Hybrid fs/ps CARS Spectroscopy for Single-Shot kHz-Rate Thermometry in High-Temperature Flames

Abstract

This work expands on previous studies to utilize hybrid femtosecond/picosecond coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (fs/ps CARS) in high-temperature flames for background-free thermometry. The goal of the current work is to quantify the precision and accuracy of the temperature measurements over an expanded temperature range from 1250 – 2400 K, while also quantifying the influence of nonresonant background on the measurements. Temporal suppression of the nonresonant background by three orders of magnitude while retaining up to 20% of the time-zero signal is demonstrated while the background-free single-shot spectra show a signal-to-noise ratio of ~ 200:1 at ~2400 K. The accuracy and precision of the singleshot temperature measurements are investigated over an expanded range of 1250 – 2400 K to address hybrid fs/ps CARS applicability to lower temperature flames. The resulting accuracy and precision of the measurements is better than 10% and 3.5%, respectively, at all conditions. Finally, the effect of the nonresonant background on the accuracy and precision of the temperature measurement is quantified at ~2400 K, and the need for nonresonant-free detection is discussed.