Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering diagnostics of combustion and other reactive media at ONERA

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) is well adapted to the measurement of temperatures and concentrations of molecules in reactive gaseous media. The general principles are given along with the major technical advantages and requirements. Characteristic applications are described in order to present state-of-the-art performance levels: measurement time, spatial resolution, detection sensitivity. Results are presented of instantaneous temperature measurements in combustion and in piston engines, measurements of rotational–vibrational populations of H₂ in a magnetic multicusp discharge, and measurements of the vibrational excitation of the prompt H₂ formed in H₂CO dissociation.