Non-intrusive laser diagnostics for the spatially and temporally resolved measurement of temperature, chemical composition, and flow parameters have emerged over the last few decades as major tools for the study of both fundamental and applied combustion science. Many of the important advances in the field can be attributed to the discussions and ideas emanating from this meeting. This conference, originating in 1981 and held biennially, focuses on laser-based methods for measurement of both macroscopic parameters and the underlying microscale physical and chemical processes. Applications are discussed primarily to elucidate new chemical and physical issues and/or interferences that need to be addressed to improve the accuracy and precision of the various diagnostic approaches or to challenge the community of diagnosticians to invent new measurement techniques. Combustion environments present special challenges to the optical diagnostics community as they address measurements relevant to turbulence, spray and mixture formation, or turbulence/chemistry interactions important in practical combustion systems as well as fundamental chemical reactions in stationary laminar flames. The diagnostics considered may be generally classed as being incoherent, where the signals are radiated isotropically, or coherent, where the signals are generated in a directed, beam-like fashion. Both of the foregoing may employ either electronic or Raman resonance enhancement or a combination of both. Prominent incoherent approaches include laser induced fluorescence (LIF), spontaneous Raman scattering, Rayleigh scattering, laser induced incandescence, molecular flow tagging, and Mie scattering and their two- and three-dimensional imaging variants. Coherent approaches include coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), degenerate four wave mixing (DFWM), polarization spectroscopy (PS), laser induced grating spectroscopy (LIGS) and laser-based absorption spectroscopy. Spectroscopic modelling and validation are key elements to extract accurate parameter measurements and discussions focusing on key energy transfer processes, collisional models, and lineshapes. The properties and behaviour of lasers, optical arrangements and techniques, spectrally-selective and dispersive instruments and detectors are also important determinants of successful measurements and are discussed in detail. Recent developments in the conference have highlighted the application of techniques developed for combustion research that find application in other areas such as biological, atmospheric, chemical engineering or plasma processes.

The Conference will bring together a collection of investigators who are at the forefront of their field. All participants are requested to present a poster and thus the meeting will provide opportunities for junior scientists and graduate students exchange ideas with leaders in the field. Hot topics in the field are featured in a special session selected from contributed posters to highlight the most recent advances and future directions.