Improvements in filtered Rayleigh scattering measurements using Fabry-Perot etalons for spectral filtering of pulsed, 532-nm Nd:YAG output

摘要

In this manuscript, we investigate a new methodology for increasing the spectral purity of the second-harmonic output of an injection-seeded, frequency-doubled, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser operating near 532 nm. Specifically, tunable Fabry-Perot etalons (FPEs) are used as ultra-narrowband spectral filters, transmitting the desired single-mode output, while filtering out a significant portion of the broadband pedestal characteristic of injection-seeded lasers. A specific emphasis is placed on the design and optimization of the FPEs in the context of filtered Rayleigh scattering (FRS) measurements and how their utilization results in substantial increases in spectral purity, realizable attenuation of unwanted scattering, and applications in environments with high paniculate levels. Experimental results show an increase in laser spectral purity of more than one order-of-magnitude (from 0.99997 to 0.999998) when using FPE filters, which led to a two-order-of-magnitude increase in achievable attenuation of laser light passing through a molecular iodine filter. The utility of the FPE-based spectral filtering of the pulsed Nd:YAG output for 2D FRS imaging was demonstrated in turbulent, isothermal gas-phase jets, seeded with varying levels of non-evaporating droplets with particle volume fractions (F_(Vp)) ranging from ～5 to ＞60 parts-per-million (ppm). After implementation of an optimized air-spaced FPE in the 532-nm output, no particle scattering was observed (based on visual and statistical analysis), even for the highest seed case (F_(Vp) ～ 60 ppm), and the gas-phase Rayleigh-Brillouin signals were collected without interference from the flowfield particulate. The current results suggest that the implementation of properly specified FPEs allows FRS to be applied in environments with high flowfield particulate levels; levels are well beyond what have been suitable for previous FRS measurements.