Engineering topics

Fairbank, W. M., Jr.

Publications and source records attributed to Fairbank, W. M., Jr..

6 records

NASA NTRS1981

Observation and measurement of molecular flow using stimulated Raman gain spectroscopy

The observation and measurement of frequency shifts in stimulated Raman gain spectroscopy resulting from subsonic molecular nitrogen flows emerging from a simple nozzle are reported. The flow velocity in the region of the measurement was determined to be 145 m/s with an accuracy of plus or minus 30 m/s. It is expected that significantly better flow-velocity resolution will be obtained in future experiments using inverse Raman scattering.

Herring, G. C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Measuring molecular flows with high-resolution stimulated Raman spectroscopy

It is proposed to use high-resolution stimulated Raman spectroscopy to directly measure high-speed molecular flow velocities in wind tunnels and in combustive chambers. A feasibility study indicates that flow speeds from Mach 0.04 up may be measured with the proposed method using available laser systems. It is pointed out that the success of the proposed technique will make it possible to measure all interesting flow parameters, i.e., species concentration, temperature, and velocity, in a time of less than 1 microsecond at a repetition rate of 10,000/s using a single experimental arrangement.

She, C. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Detection of individual atoms in helium buffer gas and observation of their real-time motion

Single atoms are detected and their motion measured for the first time to our knowledge by the fluorescence photon-burst method in the presence of large quantities of buffer gas. A single-clipped digital correlator records the photon burst in real time and displays the atom's transit time across the laser beam. A comparison is made of the special requirements for single-atom detection in vacuum and in a buffer gas. Finally, the probability distribution of the bursts from many atoms is measured. It further proves that the bursts observed on resonance are due to single atoms and not simply to noise fluctuations.

Pan, C. L.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Velocity measurements by laser resonance fluorescence

The photonburst correlation method was used to detect single atoms in a buffer gas. Real time flow velocity measurements with laser induced resonance fluorescence from single or multiple atoms was demonstrated and this method was investigated as a tool for wind tunnel flow measurement. Investigations show that single atoms and their real time diffusional motion on a buffer gas can be measured by resonance fluorescence. By averaging over many atoms, flow velocities up to 88 m/s were measured in a time of 0.5 sec. It is expected that higher flow speeds can be measured and that the measurement time can be reduced by a factor of 10 or more by careful experimental design. The method is clearly not ready for incorporation in high speed wind tunnels because it is not yet known whether the stray light level will be higher or lower, and it is not known what detection efficiency can be obtained in a wind tunnel situation.

She, C. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Measuring the velocity of individual atoms in real time

It is proposed that the thermal velocity of a single atom could be measured in real time using a laser time-of-flight velocimeter (LTV) operating on the principle of laser resonance fluorescence. Theoretical data are presented for several atomic species that have resonances within the range of available dye-laser systems. It is shown that measurements in the subsonic region are certainly feasible. The atoms could be either in vacuum or in a buffer gas, e.g., at atmospheric pressure. Measurements in the transonic and supersonic region also appear possible. One potential application is the measurement of flow speeds in wind tunnels, perhaps as high as Mach 45.

She, C. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Third-order nonlinearities in molecular hydrogen - Two-photon resonance enhanced third-harmonic generation and Raman scattering

Effects of quantum mechanical interferences on third-order susceptibilities in molecules are studied. First principle calculations for molecular hydrogen are presented and shown to agree with results derived from experimental stimulated Raman gain and spontaneous Raman cross-section data. 10 percent third-harmonic conversion efficiency in H2 at 1 atm without phase matching should require a 150 MW per sq cm at 4.81 microns. As little as 5.9-MW power is sufficient when the beam is properly focused. Resonance Raman scattering (RRS) is proposed for experimentally investigating the interference effects, which tend to reduce the strength of third-order nonlinear susceptibilities.

Pan, C.-L.↗