2D imaging of absolute methyl concentrations in nanosecond pulsed plasma by photo-fragmentation laser-induced fluorescence

A novel diagnostic approach, photo-fragmentation laser-induced fluorescence (PF-LIF), has been developed for 2D imaging of methyl radicals in plasma environments. This technique enables the detailed mapping of methyl concentrations, crucial for understanding plasma-assisted hydrocarbon chemistry, including near-surface areas vital for plasma-surface interactions like catalysis. PF-LIF operates by breaking down methyl molecules with a laser and detecting the resulting fragments using fluorescence imaging, providing precise, spatially, and temporally resolved data on methyl distribution. The application of PF-LIF in imaging methyl in methane plasmas and its combination with formaldehyde imaging to study chemical dynamics in plasma-assisted processes demonstrate its potential for enhancing the understanding of complex chemical reactions in plasmas.