Measurement of Fluorine Atom Concentrations and Reaction Rates in Chemical Laser Systems

The line positions of two components of the fluorine-atom ground state fine structure transition have been measured with diode laser absorption spectroscopy, using a water vapor pure rotational line at 404.077/cm as a wavelength reference. These results imply a spin orbit splitting for fluorine of 404.142 + or - 0.01/cm. Further experiments planned in the program will provide data on the temperature-dependent line broadening parameters for foreign gas broadening of the F atom transitions. In addition, F atom recombination rates will be studied using the diode laser measurements technique. It is anticipated that the results of this program will provide all data required for implementation of this technique as an in-situ F atom diagnostic in chemical laser systems. (author)