CW laser-induced fluorescence of toluene for time-resolved imaging of gaseous flows

A laser-induced fluorescence diagnostic is presented for high-speed measurements in gaseous flows. The technique employs a toluene tracer excited at 266 nm by a cavity-doubled 532 nm diode-pumped 5.5 W CW laser. The high power (600 mW) of UV light produced by cavity doubling, together with the high fluorescence yield of toluene, yields strong signal levels needed for high-speed recording. Fluctuation detection limits for tracer mole fraction were investigated by applying the diagnostic to an atmospheric temperature and pressure nitrogen jet. For single-point measurements with a photomultiplier tube, the detection limit for fluctuations in the toluene mole fraction was 0.028%, achieved with 430 mW of laser power and 8.5 kHz bandwidth for a 1x0.4x0.4 mm collection volume. Line (1-D) imaging with a kinetic-readout camera (512 pixels/row) achieved a detection limit of 0.23% with 440 mW of laser power, 9.7 kHz frame rate, and 0.3x0.2x0.4 mm collection volume per pixel, while planar (2-D) imaging with a 512x512 pixel intensified camera achieved a detection limit of 0.88% with 205 mW of laser power, 100 mu s exposure time, and 0.4x0.4x0.4 mm volume per pixel. Line and planar imaging were applied to a turbulent jet with Re of about 10000.