Many combustion experiments involving particle sizing and radiation measurement require an accurate knowledge of the refractive (n) and 31 absorption (k) indices of soot. Even though soot is a complex hydrocarbon with a particularly high C:H mass ratio, values for n and k for carbon are often used as being equivalent for soot. Literature values of n and k for soot and carbon show wide scatter: 1.40 < n < 2.6, 0.43 < k < 1.4. These values were quoted within quite a narrow wavelength range (430 < A < 550 nm), where n and k are almost constant. Also, due to the complexity of the soot formation process, it is likely that n and k will change within different regions of a given flame. Using the combination of power spectra and/or autocorrelation techniques with scattering and extinction, the proposed research project is suggested as a concept for an in-situ method in which an assessment of n and k can be made directly.Anticipated Results and
Potential Commercial Applications: Research could lead to the development of a device to determine the in-situ refractive and absorptive indices of soot.
