Accession Number:

AD0743121

Title:

Experimental Studies of Photoionization Processes in Air

Descriptive Note:

Semiannual technical rept. 1 Nov 1971-1 May 1972

Corporate Author:

CORNELL AERONAUTICAL LAB INC BUFFALO NY

Personal Author(s):

• Wurster, Walter H.

Report Date:

1971-05-01

Pagination or Media Count:

37.0

Abstract:

An experimental study is described whose objectives is to assess the role of NO in the nonequilibrium vacuum ultraviolet VUV radiation from shockheated air. The experiment utilizes a splitter-plate shock tube technique wherein the VUV radiation behind a reflected shock is used as a light source to measure the absorption by gases processed only by the incident shock wave. In addition, nonequilibrium radiation profiles behind strong incident shock waves are also measured to aid in the identification of the relevant excitation processes. The report describes the apparatus, discusses the results of calculations needed to establish testing parameters, and presents the experimental measurements to date. Author

Descriptors:

• *AIR
• *GAS IONIZATION
• *NITROGEN OXIDES
• ABSORPTION SPECTRA
• ATMOSPHERE ENTRY
• CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIUM
• ELECTRON TRANSITIONS
• EXCITATION
• NITROGEN
• OXYGEN
• PLASMAS(PHYSICS)
• SHOCK WAVES
• ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
• UPPER ATMOSPHERE

Subject Categories:

• Atmospheric Physics
• Atomic and Molecular Physics and Spectroscopy

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE