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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy For Analysis Of High Density Methane-Oxygen Mixtures, Matthew Dackman Dec 2014

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy For Analysis Of High Density Methane-Oxygen Mixtures, Matthew Dackman

Masters Theses

The applicability of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) toward greater than atmospheric density combustion diagnostics is examined. Specifically, this involves ascertaining the feasibility of measuring chemical equivalence ratios directly from atomic emission spectra at high density. The need for such measurement arises from the desire to quantify real time, localized combustion performance in weakly mixed flows. Insufficiently mixed flows generally result in unwanted byproducts, possess the propensity for overall combustion instability, and are increasingly likely to experience localized flame extinction.

We simulate methane/oxygen combustion in ambient pressures ranging 1 to 4 atmospheres, demonstrating these results to be analogous to what would …


Radiation-Induced Radicals In Polyurea-Crosslinked Silica Aerogel, Benjamin Michael Walters Aug 2014

Radiation-Induced Radicals In Polyurea-Crosslinked Silica Aerogel, Benjamin Michael Walters

Masters Theses

Free radicals are atoms or molecules with an odd number of electrons in an outer shell. Since electrons typically occur in pairs, this leaves one electron that is unpaired. In seek of another electron to pair with, free radicals react with and steal electrons from neighboring molecules, which then become free radicals themselves. This can start a chain reaction, cascading into large scale damage.

Ionizing radiation can tear through molecules, just as bullets can tear through things that we see. If free radicals can be detected, and seen to increase in a material upon radiation exposure, this can indicate molecular …


Aluminum Monoxide Emission Measurements Following Laser-Induced Breakdown For Plasma Characterization, David Michael Surmick Aug 2014

Aluminum Monoxide Emission Measurements Following Laser-Induced Breakdown For Plasma Characterization, David Michael Surmick

Masters Theses

In this work, spectroscopic emissions from laser ablated aluminum samples are used to characterize the time dependent decay of laser-induced plasma. The plasma is created by tightly focusing nanosecond pulsed laser radiation. Time resolved measurements of the plasma are made with a gated, intensified linear diode array coupled to an optical multichannel analyzer and/or an intensified charged coupled device. Time resolution is achieved by synchronizing the laser with the measurement rate of the array detector.

Computed diatomic molecular aluminum monoxide emissions were used to infer the temperature of the plasma as a function of time. This was completed by comparing …