Abstract

Degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) spectroscopy is a promising diagnostic technique [1-3], but significant questions remain regarding its application for quantitative concentration measurements in combustion environments with typical laser systems. In this paper we present a summary of two numerical investigations with the goal of quantifying the measurement technique for common experimental situations. Specifically, we investigate both (1) probing a degenerate-level (multistate) resonance with a single-mode laser and (2) probing a two-state resonance with a multimode laser. DFWM signal levels are calculated by solving the time-dependent density matrix equations using direct numerical integration (DNI) [4, 5] for a two or more level system interacting with three laser beams.

© 1998 Optical Society of America