Intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy and cavity ring-down spectroscopy in low-pressure flames

Intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy (ICLAS) and cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) have been used for measurement of the NH₂-radical spectrum near 643 nm. NH₂ was obtained in low-pressure methane/air flat flames doped with minor amounts of ammonia (as low as 0.023%). The NH ₂ concentration was measured both by CRDS and ICLAS in the same conditions. This enables us to compare the practical sensitivity of the two methods. Both methods were also used for measurements in a sooting acetylene/air flame (φ = 2.6). The comparative advantages of the methods and their complementarities are discussed.