Abstract

The hydroxyl radical has been extensively investigated for the thermal- and chemical characterization of combustion processes.^1–4 High temperature OH spectra are also of interest for the characterization of laser-induced air plasmas and laser-ignited gaseous combustible mixtures. Spectral studies of laser-induced breakdown microplasmas in laboratory air were performed and time-resolved OH recombination emission spectra were measured and compared with theoretical predictions. Particularly in view of laser ignition of, for example, gaseous combustible mixtures, analysis of such recombination spectra is required prior to the use of OH as a combustion indicator in laser-ignited media.

© 1996 Optical Society of America