The ability to accurately measure solid particulate levels in various applications ranging from engines to laboratory flames has become very important in the past few decades. A new approach to measuring soot levels called laser-induced incandescence was investigated. An apparatus was designed and built in order to measure soot levels in an atmospheric laminar diffusion flame with the intent of conducting proof-of-concept measurements. The apparatus utilized highly focussed optics while collecting time-resolved data using fast PMTs which allowed measurement of both time and spatial domains. Although noise and other technical problems proved to be a concern, measurements with reasonable agreement with published results for temperature (2800 K) and the primary particle soot size (6.3 +/- 2.5 nm) were achieved within the flame. Noise issues with the apparatus prevented accurate soot volume fraction measurements from being obtained. Numerous suggestions have been made as to how to improve the experiment for future use, potentially in a high pressure environment.

The ability to accurately measure solid particulate levels in various applications ranging from engines to laboratory flames has become very important in the past few decades. A new approach to measuring soot levels called laser-induced incandescence was investigated. An apparatus was designed and built in order to measure soot levels in an atmospheric laminar diffusion flame with the intent of conducting proof-of-concept measurements. The apparatus utilized highly focussed optics while collecting time-resolved data using fast PMTs which allowed measurement of both time and spatial domains. Although noise and other technical problems proved to be a concern, measurements with reasonable agreement with published results for temperature (2800 K) and the primary particle soot size (6.3 +/- 2.5 nm) were achieved within the flame. Noise issues with the apparatus prevented accurate soot volume fraction measurements from being obtained. Numerous suggestions have been made as to how to improve the experiment for future use, potentially in a high pressure environment.