: Deimling, L.; Liehmann, W.; Eisenreich, N.; Weindel, M.; Eckl, W.

Abstract
The signature of rocket plumes can be used for detection, identification and guidance of rockets. The signature of various types of solid rocket propellants was investigated by spectroscopic methods. The emission and transmission characteristics of plumes were studied exptl., the results were analyzed based on mol. bands and continuum radiation. The model formulations include a nitramine, a double-base, and a composite propellant. Rapid-scanning filter wheel spectrometers were applied for the wavelength region from 1.2-14 .mu.m with a time resoln. of 50 spectra/s and a wavelengths resoln. of 1% of actual wavelength. The UV/VIS wavelengths region was recorded by an OMA system with wavelength resoln. of 0.1 and 1 nm, and time resoln. of 10 spectra/s. Mol. bands of H2O and CO2 dominate in the near IR and IR. Depending on compn., continuous radiation indicates particles in the rocket exhaust. A code was developed to calc. mol. bands and continuous radiation using temp. and species distribu tions found by thermodn. estn. to obtain the radiance of the plume. Comparison with exptl. data delivered plume temps.