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A one-dimensional (1D) thermometry using oxygen-tagging resonantly ionized photoelectron thermometry (O₂RIPT) was employed to investigate thermal gradients within a Mach 4 Ludwieg tube. The Ludwieg tube is pulsed with a test duration of approximately 100 ms, providing a cold supersonic flow at Mach 4 ideal for studying aerothermal effects. This study focused on measuring freestream temperatures, capturing shock-induced heating behind a detached bow shock from a blunt cylinder, and resolving sharp temperature variations across a bow shock generated by a cylinder. The O₂RIPT technique produced strong emission signals extending approximately 4 cm long, demonstrating its capability for precise temperature measurements in high-speed wind tunnel environments. The results confirm that O₂RIPT is well-suited for applications in large-scale aerodynamic testing facilities, particularly in regions with strong compression effects, enabling the resolution of sharp thermal gradients. This method presents a promising solution for thermometry in dynamic flow conditions relevant to various experimental ground-test facilities. 

As the field of fluid dynamics progresses, the demand for sophisticated diagnostic methods to accurately assess flow conditions rises. In this work, resonantly ionized photoemission thermometry (RIPT) has been used to directly target and ionize diatomic nitrogen (N₂) to measure one-dimensional (1D) temperature profiles in a supersonic jet flow. This technique can be considered non-intrusive as the premise uses resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) to target molecular nitrogen. This resonance excites N₂into absorption bands of the P, Q, and R rotational branches of N₂(b¹Π_u). The ideal (3 + 1) REMPI scheme excites from the ground state and ionizes N₂(b¹Π_u←X¹Σ_g⁺) where de-excitation results in photoemission from the first negative band of ionizedN₂⁺(B²Σ_u⁺→X²Σ_g⁺) as nitrogen returns to the ground state. The resulting emission can be observed using an intensified camera, thus permitting inference of the rotational temperature of ground-state molecular nitrogen. A linearly regressive Boltzmann distribution is applied based on previous calibration data for this technique to quantify the temperature along the ionized line. This work applies this technique to a pure N₂supersonic jet in cross-flow and counter-flow orientations to demonstrate N₂RIPT’s applications in a supersonic flow. Temperature variations are observed at different locations downstream of the exit in cross-flow, and axisymmetric in counter-flow, to generate profiles characterizing the flow dynamics. Due to the collisional effects resulting from the number density of N₂at higher pressures, a (3 + 2) REMPI scheme is observed throughout this text. 

This paper presents an extensive parameter study of a non-intrusive and non-seeded laser diagnostic method for measuring one dimensional (1D) rotational temperature of molecular nitrogen (N₂) at 165 - 450 K. Compared to previous efforts using molecular oxygen, here resonantly ionized and photoelectron induced fluorescence of molecular nitrogen for thermometry (N₂RIPT) was demonstrated. The RIPT signal is generated by directly probing various rotational levels within the rovibrational absorption band of N₂, corresponding to the 3-photon transition of N₂(X¹Σ_g⁺,v=0→b¹Π_u,v^′=6) near 285 nm, without involving collisional effects of molecular oxygen and nitrogen. The photoionized N₂produces strong first negative band of N₂⁺(B²Σ_u⁺−X²Σ_g⁺) near 390 nm, 420 nm, and 425 nm. Boltzmann analyses of various discrete fluorescence emission lines yield rotational temperatures of molecular nitrogen. By empirically choosing multiple rotational levels within the absorption band, non-scanning thermometry can be accurately achieved for molecular nitrogen. It is demonstrated that the N₂RIPT technique can measure 1D temperature profile up to ∼5 cm in length within a pure N₂environment. Multiple wavelengths are thoroughly analyzed and listed that are accurate for RIPT for various temperature ranges. 

The frame rate of conventional high-speed imaging devices is limited by exposure time and signal read-out time. Structured imaging is able to push the frame rate beyond the limit of the imaging device. This work demonstrates the feasibility of potential TeraHz rate structured imaging with a multiplexed structured imaging setup. In this work, a multiplexed structured image capture system was employed to image UV laser induced krypton-II emission lines at 10 GHz. The measured emission intensity of the 764 nm line over time suggests a temporal resolution of 97 ps. The temporal resolution is adjustable, and the frame rate can be further increased to the TeraHz level. 

Characterization of the thermal gradients within supersonic and hypersonic flows is essential for understanding transition, turbulence, and aerodynamic heating. Developments in novel, impactful non-intrusive techniques are key for enabling flow characterizations of sufficient detail that provide experimental validation datasets for computational simulations. In this work, Resonantly Ionized Photoemission Thermometry (RIPT) signals are directly imaged using an ICCD camera to realize the techniques 1D measurement capability for the first time. The direct imaging scheme presented for oxygen-based RIPT (O₂RIPT) uses the previously established calibration data to direct excite various resonant rotational peaks within the S-branch of theC³Π, (v = 2) ← X³Σ(v^′ = 0) absorption band of O₂. The efficient ionization of O₂liberates electrons that induce electron avalanche ionization of local N₂molecules generating N₂⁺, which primarily deexcites via photoemissions of the first negative band of $N_2^{+}\left(B^2{\mathrm{\Sigma <\#comment/>}}_u^{+}-<\#comment/>X^2{\mathrm{\Sigma <\#comment/>}}_g^{+}\right)$. When sufficient lasing energy is used, the ionization region and subsequent photoemission signal is achieved along a 1D line thus, if directly imaged can allow for gas temperature assignments along said line; demonstrated here of up to five centimeters in length. The temperature gradients present within the ensuing shock train of a supersonic under expanded free jet serves as a basis of characterization for this new RIPT imaging scheme. The O₂RIPT results are extensively compared and validated against well-known and established techniques (i.e., CARS and CFD). The direct imaging capability fully realizes the technique’s fundamental potential and is expected to be the standard of implementation going forward. The direct imaging capability can play instrumental roles in future scientific studies that rely upon acute characterization of thermal gradients within a medium that cannot be easily resolved by a point. Furthermore, the removal of the spectrometer greatly reduces the cost, complexity, and optical alignment associated with prior RIPT measurements.