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Updated: Nov 10, 2025
09:41
Emission Spectroscopic Boundary Layer Investigation during Ablative Material Testing in Plasmatron
Published on: June 9, 2016
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High frame rate emission spectroscopy for ablation tests in plasma wind tunnel
Ranjith Ravichandran1, David Leiser1, Fabian Zander2
1High Enthalpy Flow Diagnostics Group, Institute of Space Systems, University of Stuttgart, 70569 Pfaffenwaldring, Stuttgart, Germany.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|April 6, 2021
Summary
A new high frame rate emission spectroscopy system enables kHz resolution analysis of transient phenomena in high enthalpy flows. This setup allows detailed study of molten droplet evolution from ablating samples, offering unprecedented temporal and spatial insights.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Spectroscopy
- Materials Science
Background:
- High enthalpy flow fields present challenges for accurate spectroscopic measurements.
- Understanding transient phenomena in these environments is crucial for applications like atmospheric re-entry and materials testing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate a novel high frame rate emission spectroscopy setup.
- To enable kHz resolution analysis of transient events in high enthalpy flows.
- To investigate the spatial and temporal evolution of molten droplets from ablating samples.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Czerny-Turner spectrograph coupled with a Generation II intensifier and high-speed camera.
- Developed a specialized optical and hardware configuration for high frame rate detection.
- Tested the system using ablating meteorite samples in a high enthalpy plasma flow field simulating an 80 km altitude flight scenario.
Main Results:
- Successfully recorded spectral images at a 1 kHz frame rate.
- Enabled the first-time investigation of spatial distribution and temporal tracking of molten droplets.
- Demonstrated the capability to measure faint spectral lines with high temporal and spatial resolution.
Conclusions:
- The novel high frame rate emission spectroscopy system provides kHz resolution for analyzing transient phenomena in high enthalpy flows.
- This instrumental configuration is effective for studying the dynamic behavior of ablating materials.
- The system offers a significant advancement for emission spectroscopic analysis in extreme environments.
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