Gas temperature and density of UF6 determined by two-wavelength uv absorption

The new technique of Wampler and Gentry for determining the temperature and density of gas by measuring uv gas absorption at two wavelengths has been applied to gaseous UF6. At 266 nm the absorption cross section sigma of UF6 appears to be constant, sigma = (1.15 +- 0.01) 10-18 cm2 from 0 to 1000C. The absorption cross section at 245 nm over the same temperature range may be represented with the empirical polynomial sigma = [1.37 +- 0.05 + (9.7 +- 1.5) 10-3 . T - (4.2 +- 1.1)10-5 . T2]10-18 cm2, where T is in degrees Celsius. Differences in (d sigma/dT)/sub lambda/ at 266 and 245 nm allow both UF6 temperature and density to be determined by uv absorption measurements. The strengths and limitations of this technique are discussed