Engineering topics

Watt, W. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Watt, W. S..

8 records

NASA NTRS1971

Carbon monoxide gas dynamic laser

Carbon monoxide gas dynamic laser oscillation generation, observing maximum power and vibrational exchange among single diatomic species states

Watt, W. S.↗

NASA NTRS1971

Vibrational population distributions in nonequilibrium nozzle expansion flows

Experimental measurements and theoretical calculations of the vibrational population distribution in nonequilibrium nozzle expansion flows of gas mixtures are reported. These studies were directed toward determining whether vibrational energy exchange pumping could lead to laser action on the vibrational bands of a diatomic molecule. Three different types of experiments were conducted. These showed (1) that vibrational energy was preferentially transferred from N2 to CO in supersonic nozzle flows containing these gases; (2) that under some conditions this vibrational energy exchange pumping mechanism created population inversions in the vibrational levels of CO; and (3) that at large expansion ratios the magnitude of these population inversions was sufficient to sustain lasing in the nozzle. A theoretical model was developed to calculate vibrational state population distributions in gas dynamic expansions of a mixture of diatomic gases. Although only isothermal calculations have been completed, these data indicate that population inversions are predicted for conditions similar to those obtained in the nozzle expansion flows.

Watt, W. S.↗

NASA NTRS1969

Atom formation rates behind shock waves in oxygen.

Atomic spectrophotometry to monitor O atom formation rate behind shock waves in oxygen-argon mixtures, noting dissociation over 2850-5550 K temperature range

Myerson, A. L.↗

NASA NTRS1969