Spectroscopie ultra-sensible des gaz ; détection de polluants Ultra-sensitive gas spectroscopy; pollutant detectionConcentration and temperature measurement in fuel-rich flamesMesures de concentrations et de températures en flammes riches

Soot formation is still one of the most pressing problems in combustion. Chemical mechanisms have been established which need to be examined in detail under laboratory conditions. Some of the main pathways concerning the formation of soot precursors are still under debate. While it seems commonly accepted that some of the dominant routes may be fuel-specific, experimental data and their comparison with kinetic models for fuels with more than 3 C atoms are scarce. This article will present an overview of the work pursued in Bielefeld on the characterisation of fuel-rich flames by a combination of laser spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.