R. Berman

Spectral line shapes for atmospheric work: Problems and solutions

We discuss the application of spectral line shapes to atmospheric physics. Two problems are identified, one of which requires detailed knowledge of spectral profiles over a limited region of the infrared. A simple master transport relaxation equation is proposed for the off-diagonal elements of the density matrix, the solution of which leads to a band profile. Exemplary solutions are then given, wherein a matrix technique is used to treat speed dependent broadening, shifting and line mixing. With reasonable computer power, detailed spectra may be constructed over regions containing tens if not hundreds of lines.

Dynamic measurement of gas temperature and pressure using infrared spectroscopy

The changing thermodynamic state of a pressure modulated gas sample near room temperature has been measured spectroscopically. Gas temperature was determined within 1 K from the ratio of the integrated absorptions of two vibrorotational lines, while the integrated absorption from one line was used to measure the pressure.