Research

High-temperature reaction kinetics, particularly for temperatures exceeding 2000 K, strongly impact the design of thermal protection systems (i.e. heat shielding) for high-speed aircraft and spacecraft. My contributions to the field of aerothermodynamics include new laser diagnostics (below) and modern measurements of the internal energy transfer of vibrational energy - called vibrational relaxation - and the chemical reactions that decompose air (O2 and N2) into atomic species (O and N) and nitric oxide (NO). The following results demonstrate the low scatter necessary for model validation, while also expanding to nearly 3 times the surface temperature of the sun.

In support of my work measuring high-temperature reaction kinetics, I have applied advanced, multicomponent ultraviolet laser systems to probe oxygen and nitric oxide with quantum-state specificity. These advanced diagnostics can probe the distribution of these molecules among vibrational, rotational, and electronic states, shedding light on the nonequilibrium that can occur between internal energy modes. Much of my work has probed O2 and NO, but I have also helped to extend the use of infrared diagnostics to probe excited states of O and N atoms. Ultimately I have applied these advanced laser diagnostics to a wide range of experiments, including a reflected shock tube, an electric arc shock tube, and a discharge cell.