Auburn SPECL

Spectroscopy for Propulsion, Energy, and Combustion Laboratory

Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University

Welcome

Welcome to the Spectroscopy for Propulsion, Energy, and Combustion Laboratory (SPECL) in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University!

We pioneer ultra-fast optical and laser diagnostic techniques to probe extreme, non-equilibrium environments in high-speed propulsion, energy conversion, and plasma-assisted combustion. The laboratory focuses on developing and deploying advanced and innovative measurement capabilities to provide key data for predictive model validation in complex, hostile, and highly transient reactive flows. These environments are usually inaccessible to physical sensors, so we rely on optical and spectroscopic approaches to make non-intrusizve measurements.

Our goal is to provide critical validation data for predictive modeling. These application areas include high-speed propulsion, hypersonic and reentry plasmas, energetic materials and detonation environment, spray dynamics with multiphase thermal transport. We have unique capabilities for optical and laser-based spectroscopy to characterize these systems.

Open positions

We are continually recruiting talented undergraduate and graduate students!

Please send an email to Prof. Michael including a statement of interest, your resume/CV, and relevant transcripts.

Example Projects

Laser-based imaging

SPECL is equipped with a suite of state-of-the-art lasers and fast detectors. These range from fiber-based supercontinuum sources to high power pulsed Nd:YAG lasers for laser-induced fluorescence imaging.

Spray and droplet dynamics

Optical measurements of spray and droplet dynamics coupled with transient heat transfer measurements provide key validation data. We couple this with high-speed wall-embedded sensors.

Energetic material combustion

Energetic materials (e.g. propellants and explosives) rapidly react and harnessing this energy for propulsion, or understanding energy release (in explosives) require extremely high-speed measurements. Our

Molecular flow tagging velocimetry (FLEET and LAITER)

MTV-based techniques are well-suited to velocity measurements in high-speed flows. FLEET and LAITER provide methods for seedless velocity measurement in challenging flow environments.