Abstract

The laser-induced incandescence of a particle of unknown size and composition can be detected simultaneously with the light elastically scattered by the particle, providing information on both the size and composition of the particle. The technique relies on vaporization of the particle; detection of the incandescence signal at the time of vaporization allows determination of the boiling point of the particle, which can in turn be related to the composition of the particle. The elastically scattered signal provides information about the size of the particle and confirmation that it was vaporized. The technique is demonstrated by directing particles through a Nd:YAG laser cavity with ∼10⁶ W/cm² of circulating intensity. Elements such as tungsten, silicon, and graphite, as well as common aerosols such as soot, can be detected and identified.

© 2003 Optical Society of America

Size distributions of nanoscaled particles and gas temperatures from time-resolved laser-induced-incandescence measurements

Thilo Lehre, Beate Jungfleisch, Rainer Suntz, and Henning Bockhorn
Appl. Opt. 42(12) 2021-2030 (2003)

Soot volume fraction and particle size measurements with laser-induced incandescence

B. Mewes and J. M. Seitzman
Appl. Opt. 36(3) 709-717 (1997)

Laser-induced incandescence for soot diagnostics at high pressures

Max Hofmann, Wolfgang G. Bessler, Christof Schulz, and Helga Jander
Appl. Opt. 42(12) 2052-2062 (2003)

Laser-induced incandescence: excitation intensity

Randall L. Vander Wal and Kirk A. Jensen
Appl. Opt. 37(9) 1607-1616 (1998)

Assessment of soot particle vaporization effects during laser-induced incandescence with time-resolved light scattering

Gregory D. Yoder, Prasoon K. Diwakar, and David W. Hahn
Appl. Opt. 44(20) 4211-4219 (2005)