High Temperature Spectroscopy of Alkali Metal Vapors for Solar to Thermal Energy Conversion.
Abstract
Solar Plasma propulsion methods proposed by the Air Force have lead to the study of high temperature optical absorption of metal vapors. The Plasma Spectroscopy Cell in the Phillips Laboratory at Edwards AFB CA has been used to obtain an abundance of absorption spectra at temperatures approaching 2000 K and pressures of one atmosphere for lithium and sodium metal vapors. Tentative assignments of molecular transitions are improved upon by use of modern computational techniques for generating intensities of molecular transitions which possibly have been observed. Identification of contributing molecular transitions to overall absorption of radiant energy assists the efforts to develop propulsion methods which rely on the direct absorption of solar energy. jg
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA291355
Entities
People
- Paul S. Erdman
- William C. Stwalley