Flame thermometry by femtosecond CARS

The potential of time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) for thermometry studies in combustion processes using the isotropic Q-bran ch of nitrogen is discussed. Despite the increasing complexity of the femto second (fs)-CARS transients with rising temperature, due to the high number of contributing levels, the time-resolved CARS signal can be simulated wit h excellent correspondence to the experiment. The feasibility of flame ther mometry with fs-CARS is demonstrated for an atmospheric pressure methane/ai r flame. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.