Title:

Insights into detonation non-equilibrium and reactive solid-gas boundaries using laser spectroscopy

Speaker:

Dr. James Michael

Affiliation:

Auburn University

When:

Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 1:00:00 PM   Add to Calendar

Where:

MRDC Building, Room 4211

Host:

Ellen Mazumdar
ellen.mazumdar@gatech.edu

Abstract

Temperature is a key property in reacting systems, controlling thermal feedback, phase change, chemical kinetic pathways, and heat release rates. This talk will highlight two applications where highly resolved measurements can help inform physics-based modeling in challenging propulsion applications. The first is the potential for non-equilibrium between different internal energy modes (electronic, vibrational, rotational) in high-speed systems. Examples include hypersonic stagnation flows, low-temperature plasma systems, and detonations. In such systems, spectroscopic methods which resolve the electronic, rotational, and vibrational energy distributions of atoms and molecules inform important mechanisms. We will discuss our recent efforts using ultrafast CARS to examine non-equilibrium in gas-phase detonations. Second, the talk will address recent results using ultrafast CARS to inform the heat flux to solid polymeric fuels for solid fueled ramjet applications. Both applications require high spatial resolution and accurate single-shot temperature measurements to resolve the controlling physical/chemical evolution.

Biography

James Michael is the Walter and Virginia Woltosz Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University. Previously, he was a member of the Mechanical Engineering Faculty at Iowa State University from 2015-2024. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (2012) and his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park (2007). His research focuses on developing and applying novel optical and spectroscopic tools to study multiphase and reacting fluid systems with emphasis on propulsion and high speed aerodynamics. He has been involved in the development of novel measurement techniques including seedless molecular flow tagging velocimetry (FLEET and LaITER), and the application of ultrafast CARS to study non-equilibrium systems. Current efforts include deploying optical diagnostics in high-speed and hypersonic environments, the study of fuel spray physics for unmanned aerial system propulsion, and CARS measurements for propulsion applications.