A comparison of selected organic tracers for quantitative scalar imaging in the gas phase via laser-induced fluorescence

This paper compares three of the tracers most commonly used for laser-induced fluorescence in gaseous flows, toluene, naphthalene, and acetone. Additionally, anisole (methoxybenzene, CH3OC6H5) is included in the comparison. Each tracer is employed to image the scalar field in the same nonreacting transient impinging turbulent jet. The jet fluid is seeded with tracer vapor in a bubbler, excitation is at 266 nm, and both air and nitrogen are used as bath gases. Measured signals are compared to theoretical predictions based on fluorescence quantum yield, absorption cross-section, and vapor pressure. We find that anisole shows the highest total signal intensity of all investigated species, while naphthalene features the highest signal per molecule. Acetone has the advantage of being insensitive to quenching by oxygen and that its fluorescence is partly at visible wavelengths. In addition to this volatility-limited scenario at room temperature, we also compare the expected relative signals for elevated temperatures and for a hypothetical case in which the amount of admissible tracer seeding is limited.