Molecular oxygen detection in low pressure flames using cavity ring-down spectroscopy

Cavity ring down spectroscopy is used for measurement of the concentration profiles of oxygen in the low pressure (30 Torr) methane/nitrogen/oxygen flames. Three different equivalence ratios are used: 0.8, 1.0 and 1.17. Molecular oxygen concentration is monitored via rotational spectrum of b¹ ∑ _g ⁺ ← X³ ∑ _g ^- (v′ =0-v″ =0) transition, also known as atmospheric A band, located near 750 nm. The P(15)P(15) line is used for concentration measurements. The sensitivity reached is 2.2×10^-8 cm^-1. The concentration profiles are in a good agreement with the ones calculated using GRI-3.0 mechanism.