Summary

In recent years, a large number of linear and nonlinear laser-based diagnostic techniques for non-intrusive measurements of species concentrations, temperatures, and gas velocities in a wide pressure and temperature range with high temporal and spatial resolution were developed and have become extremely valuable tools to study many aspects of combustion. Nonlinear laser spectroscopic techniques using infrared-visible sum-frequency generation can now bridge the pressure and materials gap to provide kinetic data for catalytic combustion. Laminar flames are ideal objects to develop the application of laser spectroscopic methods for practical combustion systems and to test and improve gas-phase reaction mechanism in combustion models. Non-intrusive laser point and field measurements, especially joint velocity-scalar data at the same point in space and time, are of basic importance in the validation and further development of turbulent combustion models. Finally, the potential of laser techniques for active combustion control in various devices from pressurized fluidized-bed reactors to gas fired power plants and municipal waste incinerators are illustrated.