Rapid measurements of Rayleigh–Brillouin scattering in gases at low temperature and low pressure using a VIPA-based spectrometer

We report on a novel, to the best of our knowledge, method for rapid measurements of Rayleigh–Brillouin scattering (RBS) profiles in air at low temperatures and low pressures, using a spectrometer based on a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA). RBS profiles were measured over a temperature range of 213–293 K and a pressure range of 343–996 mbar. The Tenti S6 model was used to fit profiles and retrieve gas temperatures. The calculated root mean square error (RMSE) for the spectral fitting curve was less than 3.23%, while the absolute error of retrieved temperatures was less than 2.44 K with an acquisition time of 2 s per profile. These results confirm the viability of using a VIPA-based spectrometer for rapid RBS profile measurements at low temperature and low pressure, with potential application to atmospheric measurements.