Emission Spectra of Uranium Particulates at High Temperature.

The emission spectrum of micron-scale uranium particulates at high temperatures in the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectral regions is investigated using a heterogeneous shock tube. Temperatures from 3000 to 9000 K are characterized in an inert argon environment and with incremental amounts of added oxygen. Atomic line spectra do not emerge above the continuum emission spectrum until between 4500 and 5000 K in pure argon, and 6100 and 6600 K in 1% oxygen.

HO and temperature measurements in propagating hydrogen/oxygen flames using a broadband swept-wavelength ECQCL.

We present experimental results using a swept-wavelength external cavity quantum cascade laser (swept-ECQCL) diagnostic to measure broadband absorption spectra over a range of 920-1180 (8.47-10.87 µm) with 2 ms temporal resolution in premixed hydrogen/oxygen flames propagating inside an enclosed chamber.

Near-MHz temperature and HO measurements in post-detonation fireballs of 25 g hemispherical explosives using scanned-wavelength-modulation spectroscopy.

A laser absorption spectroscopy diagnostic integrated within a hardened optical probe was used to measure temperature and water mole fraction at 500 kHz in post-detonation fireballs of explosives. In the experiments, an exploding-bridgewire detonator initiated a 25 g hemisphere of explosive (N5 or PETN). This produced a hemispherical fireball that traveled radially towards a hardened measurement probe.

Ultraviolet Emissions from Explosive Detonation Breakout.

Detailed spectroscopic measurements of high explosive detonation breakout in the ultraviolet region are presented. Molecular features associated with CN, NH, OH, and N are observed and analyzed. Spectra indicate extreme temperatures well in excess of 5000 K in the first few microseconds after breakout.

Spectral Emission Signatures from Cased High-Explosive Charges.

Spectroscopic signatures of cased high-explosive charge denotations are examined using emission spectroscopy with sub nanometer resolution. Eleven distinct case materials are investigated for atomic features of their major alloying elements. Molecular features of case material combustion products are also investigated for five case materials.

Elucidating uranium monoxide spectral features from a laser-produced plasma.

Uranium, because of its pyrophoricity, oxidizes rapidly in an oxygen-containing high-temperature environment. However, so far, the identification of uranium oxide (UO) emission from a laser-produced plasma system is limited to a spectral feature around 593.55 nm.

Simultaneous Imaging and Spectroscopy of Detonation Interaction in Reactive and Energetic Materials.

A dual framing camera system was coupled with custom-designed ultrafast imaging spectrometer optics to yield simultaneous imaging and imaging spectroscopy of extremely short detonation interaction events in reactive materials. For short exposures of 100 ns or less, spectral resolutions of 2.4 Å are achievable, allowing for time-resolved identification of key intermediate species evolving from prompt reaction.

Ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy in optically dense fireballs using broadband second-harmonic generation of a pulsed modeless dye laser.

Broadband frequency doubling of a modeless dye laser pulse is used to enable single-shot absorption spectroscopy in the ultraviolet for optically dense, energetic-materials fireball applications. Band widths of approximately 1-3 nm are generated in the 226 and 268 nm regions using a doubling crystal. Strong focusing of the fundamental beam onto the crystal is found to be sufficient to achieve 1-5% conversion efficiency with a pulse intensity sufficient to saturate the array detector even after 75% attenuation through the fireball.

Absorption spectroscopy measurements in optically dense explosive fireballs using a modeless broadband dye laser.

A modeless broadband dye laser is applied to probe inside optically dense fireballs generated by high explosives using single-shot, high resolution absorption spectroscopy. Despite attenuation of the main beam by 98%, high signal-to-noise ratio absorption spectra of Al, Ti, and AlO are readily obtained at resolutions of 0.007 nm, and luminosity from the fireball is strongly rejected.