• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.893-900
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• 2021

In this study, air density in a narrow test section is measured using a laser absorption spectroscopy system that detects oxygen absorption lines. An absorption line pair at 13156.28 and 13156.62 cm^-1 are detected. A gas chamber with a height of 40 mm is used as a narrow test section. A triangular spiral-shaped laser path is applied in the gas chamber to amplify absorption strength by extending laser beam path length. A well-known logarithm amplifier and a secondary amplifier are used to electrically amplify absorption signal. An AC-coupling is applied after the logarithm amplifier for signal saturation prevention and noise suppression. Procedure of calculating spectral absorbance from output signal is introduced considering the logarithm amplifier circuit configuration. Air density is determined by fitting the theoretically calculated spectral absorbance to the measured spectral absorbance. Test conditions with room temperature and a pressure range of 10~100 kPa are made in a gas chamber using a Bourdon pressure gauge. It is confirmed that air density in a narrow test section can be measured within a 16 % error through absorption signal amplification using a triangular spiral-shaped beam path and a logarithm amplifier.