Temperature controlled multiple pass absorption cell for gas phase chemical kinetics studies

The application of a Herriott-type optical multiple pass cell for absorption detection of transient species in temperature controlled laser pump-probe kinetics experiments is described. Using reaction initiation by laser photolysis in combination with reaction monitoring by absorption of a multiple pass laser allows confinement of the probed reaction volume to the temperature controlled region of a slow flow reactor. For transient measurements, this apparatus provides enhanced sensitivity from increased path length and accurate temperature control by limiting the pump-probe interaction volume. In addition, for a polarized probe laser, a simple arrangement using a polarizing beam splitter and a lambda/4 plate allows doubling of the path length. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.