Two-color absorption spectroscopy strategy for measuring the column density and path average temperature of the absorbing species in nonuniform gases

A two-color absorption spectroscopy strategy has been developed for measuring the column density and density-weighted path-average temperature of the absorbing species in nonuniform gases. This strategy uses two transitions with strengths that scale nearly linearly with temperature. In addition, measured lineshapes are used to accurately model absorbance spectra. As a result, the column density and density-weighted path-average temperature of the absorbing species can be inferred from a comparison of signals measured across a nonuniform line of sight (LOS) with simulated signals calculated using a uniform LOS. This strategy is demonstrated with simulations of water-vapor absorption across a nonuniform LOS with temperature and composition gradients comparable to those in hydrogen–air diffusion flames. In this demonstration, both the column density and density-weighted path-average temperature of water vapor are recovered to within 0.5%.