SPECTROSCOPIC TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS IN A SHOCK TUBE USING CN AS A THERMOMETRIC MOLECULE

Abstract

Rotational intensity measurements on the CN spectrum, excited through shock excitation of a powdered mixture of NH₄Cl, KNO₂, and C by helium-driven shock waves in argon have been used to infer "rotational temperatures" of the gas between 6350 °K and 8750 °K. The measured values agree well with gas kinetic temperatures inferred from simple gas dynamic theory and shock-wave velocity measurements.