Excimer laser fragmentation-fluorescence spectroscopy is an effective detec
tion strategy for NH3 in combustion exhausts at atmospheric pressure and hi
gh temperatures. Two-photon photofragmentation of NH3 with 193-nm light yie
lds emission from the NW(A-X) band at 336 nm. There are no major interferen
ces in this spectral region, and the sensitivity is at the parts per billio
n (ppb) level. Quenching of the NH(A) state radical by the major combustion
products is measured and does not limit the applicability of the detection
method. Detection limits in practical situations are of the order of 100 p
pb for a 100-shot (1-s) average. This technique could prove useful in monit
oring ammonia emissions from catalytic and noncatalytic NOx reduction proce
sses involving ammonia injection. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.