Effect of Molecular Oxygen on the Emission Spectra of Atomic Oxygen-Acetylene Flames

Abstract

Studies have been made of the emission spectra (3000 to 6000 A) obtained from low‐pressure atomic oxygen‐acetylene flames diluted with varying amounts of molecular oxygen and molecular nitrogen. Added molecular oxygen greatly increased the OH emission while reducing CH and C₂ emission. It also had an effect on the rotational intensity distribution of OH and on the vibrational intensity distribution of C₂. Nitrogen addition greatly reduced the rotational and vibrational ``temperatures'' and decreased C₂ emission relative to the other emitters.